GUWAHATI: A mob of 1,000 people killed and dismembered a male Royal Bengal tiger in Dusutimukh village in Assam's Golaghat district Thursday, claiming it had killed a man and attacked livestock in recent weeks, reports Kangkan Kalita.
Armed with machetes, spears, and iron rods, villagers chased the animal into a wooded area and hacked it to death between 8am and 9am, about 20km from Kaziranga national park and tiger reserve. Forest officials said the tiger's legs, ears, teeth, and patches of skin were taken as trophies before authorities arrived. This marks Assam's third tiger death this year, following carcass discoveries in Orang national park and Biswanath wildlife division. Assam is home to 227 tigers, according to 2022 census.
Golaghat DFO Gunadip Das said the tiger died from sharp weapon wounds, not gunshots. A case has been registered and a man arrested so far. Three forest staff were injured trying to save the tiger.
An autopsy was conducted before the remains were cremated at Golaghat range office. Forest sources said locals had been aware of the tiger's presence since early May and had prepared weapons in advance. A hunt reportedly began around 6am after villagers received word of its location.
Kaziranga field director Sonali Ghosh said the origin of the tiger remains unverified. Local MLA Mrinal Saikia condemned the killing. "It was a very painful act. Earth is not only for humans, it is for animals as well. Wild animals also need space," he said, calling for strong action against those involved.
Listed as "endangered" on IUCN's red list of threatened species, tigers are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits hunting, poaching, and trade of tiger parts.
Armed with machetes, spears, and iron rods, villagers chased the animal into a wooded area and hacked it to death between 8am and 9am, about 20km from Kaziranga national park and tiger reserve. Forest officials said the tiger's legs, ears, teeth, and patches of skin were taken as trophies before authorities arrived. This marks Assam's third tiger death this year, following carcass discoveries in Orang national park and Biswanath wildlife division. Assam is home to 227 tigers, according to 2022 census.
Golaghat DFO Gunadip Das said the tiger died from sharp weapon wounds, not gunshots. A case has been registered and a man arrested so far. Three forest staff were injured trying to save the tiger.
An autopsy was conducted before the remains were cremated at Golaghat range office. Forest sources said locals had been aware of the tiger's presence since early May and had prepared weapons in advance. A hunt reportedly began around 6am after villagers received word of its location.
Kaziranga field director Sonali Ghosh said the origin of the tiger remains unverified. Local MLA Mrinal Saikia condemned the killing. "It was a very painful act. Earth is not only for humans, it is for animals as well. Wild animals also need space," he said, calling for strong action against those involved.
Listed as "endangered" on IUCN's red list of threatened species, tigers are protected under Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, which prohibits hunting, poaching, and trade of tiger parts.
You may also like
Massive fire breaks out at tyre shops in Uttar Pradesh's Hardoi
"Not a clean chit to DMK": AIADMK leader Kovai Sathyan after SC stays probe on TASMAC
Watch: White House's Karoline Leavitt spars with journalist over video of white South African farmers' 'burial sites'
JSW Steel seeks refund of Bhushan Power and Steel-linked payments
Natural diamond still India's crown jewel: De Beers Group CEO
