15 Indian villagers killed by tigers in a year as cops warn of ‘scary situation’

More than a dozen Indian villagers have been killed by tigers in just 11 months as authorities frantically try to stop the bloodshed in what has been described as an 'unprecedented and scary situation' with 15 people killed.

Just last week, three people were butchered by the big cats in the regions of Tadoba, Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.

Khushal Sonule, 54 had been collecting tendu leaves in Somnath forest, Tadoba on Sunday morning (May 15) when he was set upon by a tiger.

His body was dragged into the jungle by the beast and found mutilated and partially eaten the next day.

Just a day before on Saturday (May 14), two more people were also killed by tigers in Chandrapur and Gadchiroli.

Meanwhile, in the region of Chitwan, community forests have become incredibly dangerous places to tread due to a surge of attacks.

In less than 11 months, 12 people have been killed and mutilated by the tigers that populate the forest.

Now panicked authorities are trying to salvage the situation, but admit that the situation is deeply concerning.

Ganesh Bahadur Shrestha, chairman of the Kumroj Buffer Zone Community Forest, shed some light on the fate of three of this year’s victims.

He said: “There have been four incidents of tiger attacks in the community forest alone. All of the attacks occurred while the locals were in the forest cutting grass and collecting fodder.

“Three of the victims died while several others were injured. Rs 854,000 (£8,840) has been spent on the treatment of the injured only. The increasing incidents of tiger attacks are becoming a matter of concern.”

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Assistant Conservation Officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari added: “The situation had never been this concerning in the history of the national park. Although there were attacks on people three years ago, nobody was killed."

Baburam Lamichhane, head of the National Nature Conservation Fund’s Sauraha office concluded: “Until three years ago, there used to be four or five tiger attacks and one or two casualties a year but the current situation is scary.”

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