In a shocking incident in Assam's Golaghat district, a mob killed and dismembered a Royal Bengal tiger after it allegedly threatened livestock and human safety. A senior forest official confirmed that the tiger succumbed to sharp wounds inflicted by around a thousand villagers who converged to enact their revenge. The state’s forest department has initiated an investigation into the case.
This marks the third recorded tiger killing in Assam this year, as man-animal conflict escalates due to habitat encroachment. Gunadeep Das, a key forest official, reported that the tiger's body was later recovered under magistrate supervision, emphasizing that no gunfire was involved in its death.
Local lawmaker Mrinal Saikia expressed his condemnation of the mob's actions on social media platform X, stating the need for a harmonious coexistence between humans and wildlife. He attached a video of the deceased tiger, which displayed signs of dismemberment. Although unverified, the video serves as a grim reminder of the dangers tigers face.
Sonali Ghosh, another forest officer, suggested the tiger might have originated from the Kaziranga National Park, located about 20 kilometers away from the site of the killing. Despite successful conservation efforts that saw the tiger population in Assam grow from 70 in 2006 to 190 in 2019, instances of direct conflict between villagers and tigers continue to arise. This scenario raises concerns about the protection of vital wildlife corridors and the long-term implications of habitat loss on conservation efforts.
Under the Wildlife Protection Act of 1972, tigers are classified as a protected species, and any act of poaching, hunting, or trade of their parts is strictly prohibited. Nonetheless, as tensions between human populations and wildlife persist, local authorities are urged to implement strategies that balance ecological preservation with community safety.
