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In India, a Bullet Finally Ends a Man-Eating Tiger’s Kill Spree In India, a Bullet Finally Ends a Man-Eating Tiger’s Kill Spree
(about 2 hours later)
NEW DELHI — A man-eating tigress that stalked the hills of central India, eluded capture many times and was believed to have killed 13 people was finally felled by a bullet on Friday night, a man involved in the hunt said. NEW DELHI — A man-eating tigress that stalked the hills of central India, eluded capture many times and was believed to have killed 13 people was finally felled by a bullet on Friday night, officials said.
The tigress, given the name T-1 by Indian rangers, had been hunted for months in a huge, military-style operation in the central state of Maharashtra, which at one point involved gunmen mounted on elephants.The tigress, given the name T-1 by Indian rangers, had been hunted for months in a huge, military-style operation in the central state of Maharashtra, which at one point involved gunmen mounted on elephants.
Wildlife activists had tried to save the endangered tiger’s life, arguing against villagers in the area who had been terrorized by T-1 and wanted her dead. The dispute reached India’s Supreme Court, which ruled that the rangers should try to tranquilize her — but if that proved impossible, then to kill her.Wildlife activists had tried to save the endangered tiger’s life, arguing against villagers in the area who had been terrorized by T-1 and wanted her dead. The dispute reached India’s Supreme Court, which ruled that the rangers should try to tranquilize her — but if that proved impossible, then to kill her.
That is exactly what happened, according to Nawab Shafat Ali Khan, a well-known tiger tracker who has been deeply involved in the hunt, though he was not present on Friday night. He said T-1, after being struck with a tranquilizer dart, charged the hunters and was shot dead. That is exactly what happened, according to a statement issued on Saturday by the Maharashtra Forest Department. The statement said the tiger, after being struck with a tranquilizer dart, charged the hunters and was shot dead.
During her killing spree, which lasted more than two years, T-1 had seemed especially clever. Whenever forest guards drew close, she slipped into the dense underbrush and disappeared. She recently had two cubs, which made her capture even riskier and more complicated.During her killing spree, which lasted more than two years, T-1 had seemed especially clever. Whenever forest guards drew close, she slipped into the dense underbrush and disappeared. She recently had two cubs, which made her capture even riskier and more complicated.
The hunt mounted by the Indian authorities in recent weeks involved scores of forest guards, police officers, remote camera sensors, jeeps, bulldozers (to clear away the bush) and five Indian elephants, with sharpshooters mounted on their backs. (The elephants were later withdrawn from the hunt, after one of them killed someone.) Hunters even tried attracting the tigress with men’s cologne.The hunt mounted by the Indian authorities in recent weeks involved scores of forest guards, police officers, remote camera sensors, jeeps, bulldozers (to clear away the bush) and five Indian elephants, with sharpshooters mounted on their backs. (The elephants were later withdrawn from the hunt, after one of them killed someone.) Hunters even tried attracting the tigress with men’s cologne.
The process was complicated by bureaucratic infighting, not to mention the tall, bushy grasses produced at the end of the monsoon season, which are perfect for tigers to hide in.The process was complicated by bureaucratic infighting, not to mention the tall, bushy grasses produced at the end of the monsoon season, which are perfect for tigers to hide in.
Another complicating factor was an clash of egos between the rangers and government veterinarians on one side and Mr. Khan, who had been recruited by some government officials, on the other. Another complicating factor was an clash of egos between the rangers and government veterinarians on one side and one of India’s most celebrated hunters, Nawab Shafat Ali Khan, who had been recruited by some government officials, on the other.
The veterinarians and Mr. Khan, who is one of India’s most celebrated hunters, blamed each other for botching earlier capture attempts. In mid-September, Mr. Khan left the hunt in a huff, but he returned after the elephants were withdrawn. The veterinarians and Mr. Khan blamed each other for botching earlier capture attempts. In mid-September, Mr. Khan left the hunt in a huff, but he returned after the elephants were withdrawn.
This is what happened on Friday night, according to Mr. Khan, who spoke with hunters who were there: This is what happened on Friday night, according to the forest department:
Around 11 p.m., the tigress was spotted near a camp set up by forest officials, close to the village of Borati. When they tried to tranquilize T-1, hitting her at least once, she charged back at them, Mr. Khan said by telephone. Around 6:45 p.m., people traveling near the village of Borati called forest officials to say that they had spotted a tiger prowling on the roadside. Three staff members and Asghar Ali Khan, the son of Mr. Khan, who was not in the area on Friday, stationed themselves nearby in a truck.
Mr. Khan said his son, Asghar Ali, then raised a gun and “shot her dead from a very close range.” Mr. Ali and forest officials involved in the hunt were not immediately available for comment. Later in the evening, once they were able to identify the tigress as T-1, one member of the team hit her with a tranquilizer dart, the statement said.
The tiger’s body has been taken to Nagpur, a larger city nearby, for a postmortem examination. Questions are already circulating about what will happen to T-1’s cubs, and about whether forest officials decided too hastily to use bullets. T-1 moved back, then charged at the vehicle. In a “reflex action of self-defense,” Asghar Ali Khan raised his gun and shot her from about 30 feet away.
Jerryl Banait, an activist who was involved in filing the Supreme Court petition, said by telephone that protocol was not properly followed and that Mr. Ali had not been authorized to shoot the tigress. “This is a coldblooded murder,” he said. “The tigress died on the spot,” the statement said. Her body was taken to Nagpur, a larger city nearby, for a postmortem examination.
Asghar Ali Khan was not immediately available for comment.
Questions are already circulating about what will happen to T-1’s cubs, and about whether the decision to use bullets was made too hastily.
Jerryl Banait, an activist who was involved in filing the Supreme Court petition, said by telephone that protocol was not properly followed and that Asghar Ali Khan had not been authorized to shoot the tigress. “This is a coldblooded murder,” he said.
T-1’s first known victim was killed in 2016 — an older woman who was found facedown in a cotton field, huge claw marks dug into her back. The next was a farmer, his left leg completely torn off.T-1’s first known victim was killed in 2016 — an older woman who was found facedown in a cotton field, huge claw marks dug into her back. The next was a farmer, his left leg completely torn off.
The killings continued for more than two years, sowing panic. In mid-August, the mauled body of Vaghuji Kanadhari Raut, a cattle herder, was found near a rural highway.The killings continued for more than two years, sowing panic. In mid-August, the mauled body of Vaghuji Kanadhari Raut, a cattle herder, was found near a rural highway.
What was especially frightening about that attack was that Mr. Raut had been standing in the middle of a ring of cattle when he was tugged down by the neck. None of his cows were touched. He was believed to have the 12th victim.What was especially frightening about that attack was that Mr. Raut had been standing in the middle of a ring of cattle when he was tugged down by the neck. None of his cows were touched. He was believed to have the 12th victim.
Based on DNA tests, images from remote camera traps, numerous spottings and tiger tracks, the authorities have pinned at least 13 killings on T-1, who was believed to have been around 5 years old. She consumed chunks of flesh from several people she killed, and tiger experts say she clearly developed a taste for people, as opposed to killing them because she felt threatened.Based on DNA tests, images from remote camera traps, numerous spottings and tiger tracks, the authorities have pinned at least 13 killings on T-1, who was believed to have been around 5 years old. She consumed chunks of flesh from several people she killed, and tiger experts say she clearly developed a taste for people, as opposed to killing them because she felt threatened.
It’s extremely unusual for a single tiger to have attacked that many people, which is why the authorities declared her a man-eater and mounted the full-scale hunt. Previously, young men in the nearby villages — tiger vigilantes, essentially — had patrolled with torches and bamboo sticks hoping to find her.It’s extremely unusual for a single tiger to have attacked that many people, which is why the authorities declared her a man-eater and mounted the full-scale hunt. Previously, young men in the nearby villages — tiger vigilantes, essentially — had patrolled with torches and bamboo sticks hoping to find her.
A crafty man-eating tiger on the loose might sound like something out of a Kipling story. But it’s actually a very real — and growing — problem in today’s India.A crafty man-eating tiger on the loose might sound like something out of a Kipling story. But it’s actually a very real — and growing — problem in today’s India.
The country’s effort to protect tigers, in a way, is a victim of its own success. India’s critically endangered tiger population is soaring. Closer monitoring, new technology and stricter wildlife laws have led to a sharp increase in the tiger count, from 1,411 in 2006 to an estimated 2,500 today. But the rising numbers have led to increased conflict.The country’s effort to protect tigers, in a way, is a victim of its own success. India’s critically endangered tiger population is soaring. Closer monitoring, new technology and stricter wildlife laws have led to a sharp increase in the tiger count, from 1,411 in 2006 to an estimated 2,500 today. But the rising numbers have led to increased conflict.
India’s human population and its economy have been rapidly growing as well, steadily filling in rural areas with farms, roads, and mushrooming towns. Many tigers are now running out of space.India’s human population and its economy have been rapidly growing as well, steadily filling in rural areas with farms, roads, and mushrooming towns. Many tigers are now running out of space.
They’re spilling out of their dedicated reserves, roaming along highways and skulking through crowded farmland in search for territory, mates and prey (such as antelope, wild pigs, stray cattle and, yes, sometimes people).They’re spilling out of their dedicated reserves, roaming along highways and skulking through crowded farmland in search for territory, mates and prey (such as antelope, wild pigs, stray cattle and, yes, sometimes people).
T-1 never lived in a dedicated tiger reserve; 30 percent of India’s tigers don’t. She roamed a forested area of about 60 square miles just on the edge of busy farmland near the town of Pandharkawada. Even if she had lived, according to the authorities, T-1 could never have been reintroduced into the wild.T-1 never lived in a dedicated tiger reserve; 30 percent of India’s tigers don’t. She roamed a forested area of about 60 square miles just on the edge of busy farmland near the town of Pandharkawada. Even if she had lived, according to the authorities, T-1 could never have been reintroduced into the wild.