(IN): Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

February 19, 2008

Link:

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793371.c\

ms

Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

19 Feb 2008, 0012 hrs IST,TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

CANNING/NEW DELHI: These are hard times for the big cat. In another example

of man-animal conflict, a pregnant tigress was badly injured by villagers in

West Bengal on Monday. That's not all. Another tiger was found paralysed in

Madhya Pradesh even as police confiscated three tiger skins in Kerala.

The tigress had strayed into human habitations in the Sunderbans and had

injured three persons in South 24-Parganas district's Deulbari village.

Enraged villagers stoned the animal.

The frightened big cat, which had to swim across two rivers, Matla and

Makri, to reach the village, climbed atop a banyan tree.

Forest guards encircled the tree with a net hoping to trap the animal. But

the locals set the tree on fire. On seeing the flames, the scared animal

jumped on the net, tore it apart and escaped to an abandoned village hut.

Later the tigress became unconscious and forest officials captured it. It

was put in a cage and bundled onto a waiting launch. The forest guards were

also pelted with stones by the villagers. Five of them are injured.

In Madhya Pradesh, an eight-year-old male tiger was found injured with its

hind legs paralysed at Bandherwar village, 25 km from Satna town on Sunday.

Panna Tiger Reserve authorities have tranquilised the tiger and taken it to

Bhopal for treatment. Nobody knows how the injury occurred.

Meanwhile, trading in tiger skin continues. According to information

collated by Wildlife Protection Society of India, in the past 48 hours,

forest officials have recovered three tiger skins in two separate cases in

Kerala's Wynad district. On February 16, 2008, two tiger skins were seized

at Sulthan Bathery.

The forest department has arrested one person in this connection. In

another case, the skin of an adult tiger was confiscated at Mananthavady.

One person has been arrested in this case too.

--

United against elephant polo

http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

February 20, 2008

*Debashish Chakraborty, who is associated with People for Animals - an

animal welfare organisation, said it was the villagers who helped rescue the

tigress while the forest officials were mere onlookers.*

- The Indian

Express, Kolkata edition, WEST BENGAL, page 3, February 19, 2008

On 2/19/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 wrote:

>

> Link:

>

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793371.c\

ms

>

> Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

> 19 Feb 2008, 0012 hrs IST,TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

>

> CANNING/NEW DELHI: These are hard times for the big cat. In another

> example

> of man-animal conflict, a pregnant tigress was badly injured by villagers

> in

> West Bengal on Monday. That's not all. Another tiger was found paralysed

> in

> Madhya Pradesh even as police confiscated three tiger skins in Kerala.

>

> The tigress had strayed into human habitations in the Sunderbans and had

> injured three persons in South 24-Parganas district's Deulbari village.

> Enraged villagers stoned the animal.

>

> The frightened big cat, which had to swim across two rivers, Matla and

> Makri, to reach the village, climbed atop a banyan tree.

>

> Forest guards encircled the tree with a net hoping to trap the animal. But

> the locals set the tree on fire. On seeing the flames, the scared animal

> jumped on the net, tore it apart and escaped to an abandoned village hut.

> Later the tigress became unconscious and forest officials captured it. It

> was put in a cage and bundled onto a waiting launch. The forest guards

> were

> also pelted with stones by the villagers. Five of them are injured.

>

> In Madhya Pradesh, an eight-year-old male tiger was found injured with its

> hind legs paralysed at Bandherwar village, 25 km from Satna town on

> Sunday.

> Panna Tiger Reserve authorities have tranquilised the tiger and taken it

> to

> Bhopal for treatment. Nobody knows how the injury occurred.

>

> Meanwhile, trading in tiger skin continues. According to information

> collated by Wildlife Protection Society of India, in the past 48 hours,

> forest officials have recovered three tiger skins in two separate cases in

> Kerala's Wynad district. On February 16, 2008, two tiger skins were seized

> at Sulthan Bathery.

>

> The forest department has arrested one person in this connection. In

> another case, the skin of an adult tiger was confiscated at Mananthavady.

> One person has been arrested in this case too.

>

> --

> United against elephant polo

> http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

February 20, 2008

This is very shameful.

The Forest officials who are mostly ill equipped and lack will Power, are

getting this type of treatment as they have failed to create an atmosphere of

goodwill and making people aware of conservation strategies. They remain aloof

from society, that's why they find very less supporters in the hour of need.

More awareness is needed.

SKJ

On Wed, 20 Feb 2008 wrote :

>*Debashish Chakraborty, who is associated with People for Animals - an

>animal welfare organisation, said it was the villagers who helped rescue the

>tigress while the forest officials were mere onlookers.*

> - The Indian

>Express, Kolkata edition, WEST BENGAL, page 3, February 19, 2008

>On 2/19/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 wrote:

> >

> > Link:

> >

http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793371.c\

ms

> >

> > Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

> > 19 Feb 2008, 0012 hrs IST,TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

> >

> > CANNING/NEW DELHI: These are hard times for the big cat. In another

> > example

> > of man-animal conflict, a pregnant tigress was badly injured by villagers

> > in

> > West Bengal on Monday. That's not all. Another tiger was found paralysed

> > in

> > Madhya Pradesh even as police confiscated three tiger skins in Kerala.

> >

> > The tigress had strayed into human habitations in the Sunderbans and had

> > injured three persons in South 24-Parganas district's Deulbari village.

> > Enraged villagers stoned the animal.

> >

> > The frightened big cat, which had to swim across two rivers, Matla and

> > Makri, to reach the village, climbed atop a banyan tree.

> >

> > Forest guards encircled the tree with a net hoping to trap the animal. But

> > the locals set the tree on fire. On seeing the flames, the scared animal

> > jumped on the net, tore it apart and escaped to an abandoned village hut.

> > Later the tigress became unconscious and forest officials captured it. It

> > was put in a cage and bundled onto a waiting launch. The forest guards

> > were

> > also pelted with stones by the villagers. Five of them are injured.

> >

> > In Madhya Pradesh, an eight-year-old male tiger was found injured with its

> > hind legs paralysed at Bandherwar village, 25 km from Satna town on

> > Sunday.

> > Panna Tiger Reserve authorities have tranquilised the tiger and taken it

> > to

> > Bhopal for treatment. Nobody knows how the injury occurred.

> >

> > Meanwhile, trading in tiger skin continues. According to information

> > collated by Wildlife Protection Society of India, in the past 48 hours,

> > forest officials have recovered three tiger skins in two separate cases in

> > Kerala's Wynad district. On February 16, 2008, two tiger skins were seized

> > at Sulthan Bathery.

> >

> > The forest department has arrested one person in this connection. In

> > another case, the skin of an adult tiger was confiscated at Mananthavady.

> > One person has been arrested in this case too.

> >

> > --

> > United against elephant polo

> > http://www.stopelephantpolo.com

February 21, 2008

Hi ,

I did see the complete video of the " rescue " and it seems that whoever that

was in charge didn't have a real clue what to do. The tigress was only half

sedated taken out of the tree and then almost drowned in the small lake

stuck in the catching nets as it tried to fight back. As the tigress was

nicely positioned in the tree it was very easy to administer anesthesia and

top it up when they found she was still struggling. The crowd cheering and

shouting all around the tigress was not only a danger hazard for all them

there, but must have kept the poor animal alert, not getting sedated

properly either.

That she made it out alive is pure luck given the circumstances.

Edwin Wiek

Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

Nam Theun - Laos Wildlife Rescue Program

_____

aapn [aapn ] On Behalf Of

Wednesday, 20 February, 2008 20:58

aapn

Re: (IN): Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

*Debashish Chakraborty, who is associated with People for Animals - an

animal welfare organisation, said it was the villagers who helped rescue the

tigress while the forest officials were mere onlookers.*

- The Indian

Express, Kolkata edition, WEST BENGAL, page 3, February 19, 2008

On 2/19/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 (AT) gmail (DOT) <azam24x7%40gmail.com>

com> wrote:

>

> Link:

>

> http://timesofindia

<http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793

371.cms> .indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793371.cms

>

> Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

> 19 Feb 2008, 0012 hrs IST,TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

>

> CANNING/NEW DELHI: These are hard times for the big cat. In another

> example

> of man-animal conflict, a pregnant tigress was badly injured by villagers

> in

> West Bengal on Monday. That's not all. Another tiger was found paralysed

> in

> Madhya Pradesh even as police confiscated three tiger skins in Kerala.

>

> The tigress had strayed into human habitations in the Sunderbans and had

> injured three persons in South 24-Parganas district's Deulbari village.

> Enraged villagers stoned the animal.

>

> The frightened big cat, which had to swim across two rivers, Matla and

> Makri, to reach the village, climbed atop a banyan tree.

>

> Forest guards encircled the tree with a net hoping to trap the animal. But

> the locals set the tree on fire. On seeing the flames, the scared animal

> jumped on the net, tore it apart and escaped to an abandoned village hut.

> Later the tigress became unconscious and forest officials captured it. It

> was put in a cage and bundled onto a waiting launch. The forest guards

> were

> also pelted with stones by the villagers. Five of them are injured.

>

> In Madhya Pradesh, an eight-year-old male tiger was found injured with its

> hind legs paralysed at Bandherwar village, 25 km from Satna town on

> Sunday.

> Panna Tiger Reserve authorities have tranquilised the tiger and taken it

> to

> Bhopal for treatment. Nobody knows how the injury occurred.

>

> Meanwhile, trading in tiger skin continues. According to information

> collated by Wildlife Protection Society of India, in the past 48 hours,

> forest officials have recovered three tiger skins in two separate cases in

> Kerala's Wynad district. On February 16, 2008, two tiger skins were seized

> at Sulthan Bathery.

>

> The forest department has arrested one person in this connection. In

> another case, the skin of an adult tiger was confiscated at Mananthavady.

> One person has been arrested in this case too.

>

> --

> United against elephant polo

> http://www.stopelep <http://www.stopelephantpolo.com> hantpolo.com

__________ NOD32 2888 (20080220) Information __________

This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

http://www.eset.com

February 21, 2008

I agree cent percent to what Edwin says.

Even National Television news channels back here in India who were airing

the footage condemned the failure of the authorities and the attitude of the

locals.

This is also a brilliant example to silence the critics who feel that the

Tiger and Humans (tribals to be precise) can co-exist together in India.

Azam

On Thu, Feb 21, 2008 at 6:47 AM, Edwin Wiek <edwin.wiek wrote:

> Hi ,

>

> I did see the complete video of the " rescue " and it seems that whoever

> that

> was in charge didn't have a real clue what to do. The tigress was only

> half

> sedated taken out of the tree and then almost drowned in the small lake

> stuck in the catching nets as it tried to fight back. As the tigress was

> nicely positioned in the tree it was very easy to administer anesthesia

> and

> top it up when they found she was still struggling. The crowd cheering and

> shouting all around the tigress was not only a danger hazard for all them

> there, but must have kept the poor animal alert, not getting sedated

> properly either.

>

> That she made it out alive is pure luck given the circumstances.

>

> Edwin Wiek

>

> Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

>

> Nam Theun - Laos Wildlife Rescue Program

>

> _____

>

> aapn <aapn%40> [

> aapn <aapn%40>] On Behalf Of

>

> Wednesday, 20 February, 2008 20:58

> aapn <aapn%40>

> Re: (IN): Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

>

> *Debashish Chakraborty, who is associated with People for Animals - an

>

> animal welfare organisation, said it was the villagers who helped rescue

> the

> tigress while the forest officials were mere onlookers.*

> - The Indian

> Express, Kolkata edition, WEST BENGAL, page 3, February 19, 2008

> On 2/19/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 (AT) gmail (DOT) <azam24x7%40gmail.com>

> com> wrote:

> >

> > Link:

> >

> > http://timesofindia

> <

> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793

> 371.cms> .indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793371.cms

>

> >

> > Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

> > 19 Feb 2008, 0012 hrs IST,TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

> >

> > CANNING/NEW DELHI: These are hard times for the big cat. In another

> > example

> > of man-animal conflict, a pregnant tigress was badly injured by

> villagers

> > in

> > West Bengal on Monday. That's not all. Another tiger was found paralysed

> > in

> > Madhya Pradesh even as police confiscated three tiger skins in Kerala.

> >

> > The tigress had strayed into human habitations in the Sunderbans and had

> > injured three persons in South 24-Parganas district's Deulbari village.

> > Enraged villagers stoned the animal.

> >

> > The frightened big cat, which had to swim across two rivers, Matla and

> > Makri, to reach the village, climbed atop a banyan tree.

> >

> > Forest guards encircled the tree with a net hoping to trap the animal.

> But

> > the locals set the tree on fire. On seeing the flames, the scared animal

> > jumped on the net, tore it apart and escaped to an abandoned village

> hut.

> > Later the tigress became unconscious and forest officials captured it.

> It

> > was put in a cage and bundled onto a waiting launch. The forest guards

> > were

> > also pelted with stones by the villagers. Five of them are injured.

> >

> > In Madhya Pradesh, an eight-year-old male tiger was found injured with

> its

> > hind legs paralysed at Bandherwar village, 25 km from Satna town on

> > Sunday.

> > Panna Tiger Reserve authorities have tranquilised the tiger and taken it

> > to

> > Bhopal for treatment. Nobody knows how the injury occurred.

> >

> > Meanwhile, trading in tiger skin continues. According to information

> > collated by Wildlife Protection Society of India, in the past 48 hours,

> > forest officials have recovered three tiger skins in two separate cases

> in

> > Kerala's Wynad district. On February 16, 2008, two tiger skins were

> seized

> > at Sulthan Bathery.

> >

> > The forest department has arrested one person in this connection. In

> > another case, the skin of an adult tiger was confiscated at

> Mananthavady.

> > One person has been arrested in this case too.

> >

> > --

> > United against elephant polo

> > http://www.stopelep <http://www.stopelephantpolo.com> hantpolo.com

>

> __________ NOD32 2888 (20080220) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> http://www.eset.com

>

February 21, 2008

*Dear Edwin,*

* Please find attached an interview of Ashutosh Dhali, a

villager who was injured while trying to check if the tigress had been

sedated. Dhali was reportedly asked by the forest department to do so.

Whilst I totally acknowledge that the rescue of the tiger left a lot to be

desired, it must be kept in mind that in conflict situations with animals,

it is just as important to think about the safety of humans as it is to

voice concern about the animals.*

* Many thanks for posting your views. I trust you are well.*

* Best wishes and warm regards,*

**

* *

**

*Mauled by tortured tigress, left bleeding at SSKM Hospital*

*Prithvijit Mitra, Times News Network, The Times of India, Kolkata,

21stFebruary, 2008

*

*Kolkata: Ashutosh Dhali of Deulbari village, who was mauled by a tigress

when forest guards asked him to check on the tranquilized animal, lies

unattended and virtually uncared for at SSKM Hospital.*

*On Wednesday, 24 hours after the state government announced a reward for

his " bravery " and promised to bear all expenses for his treatment, Ashutosh

lay gritting his teeth without any doctor or nurse nearby. Barring a few

injections and painkillers on Tuesday night, Ashutosh says he has hardly

received any treatment. The massive wound on his left thigh kept bleeding

throughout the day but the hospital staff did not even bother to change the

bandage.*

*Although grievously injured, he was denied a bed at SSKM whena Joynagar

hospital sent him to Kolkata for critical care. He was only later shifted to

the Curzon ward. " I have asked the nurses repeatedly to dress my wound. It

has been bleeding and stinking since morning but they claim they are

'waiting for the doctor.' He has not visited the ward since last night, "

Ashutosh told Times of India. His son, Bipul, too, was worried about his

father. " We trust the hospital and we have no choice. He has to be treated

here, " he said.*

*Recounting his chilling encounter with the tigress on Monday morning, 45

year old Ashutosh confirmed he was asked by forest officials to check if the

animal had fallen unconscious after being hit by a tranquilizer dart. The

forest department has vehemently denied asking any villagers to check on the

tigress.*

* " Along with my two neighbours – Lalit Naskar and Gobindo Saradas – I

gingerly approached the palm tree on which the tigress had perched itself.

It was not moving so we thought the shot had taken effect. We tied a rope

around its legs and pulled it down. The moment it touched the ground, the

tigress stood up with a blood-curdling roar and leapt at us. While Lalit and

Gobindo ran in other directions, I jumped into the adjacent pond, " Ashutosh

said.*

*It turned out to be a misadventure that could have cost his life. The

tigress, too, jumped into the pond and attacked Ashutosh. He somehow made it

to the bank and was clambering up when the enraged animal lunged at him,

sunk its fangs into his left thigh and ripped a chunk of flesh.*

*Ashutosh was rendered immobile but he didn't lose his nerve. " I dragged

myself up and asked my friends to take me to a hospital. I was not scared,

but very shaken, " said the farmer.*

*He was taken to the Jamtala sub-divisional hospital where doctors referred

him to SSKM. " I would rather go to Canning Hospital now. They are experts in

treating tiger attack victims, " Ashutosh pleaded. Even though his relatives

are peeved at the treatment at SSKM, they have decided not to move him out.

" His condition is delicate and it could be risky, " said Bipul.*

*Ashutosh's family blames the forest department for putting him and other

villagers in danger. " They goaded us into taking the lead in the operation.

It was extremely dangerous. We are not experienced in handling wild animals,

let alone an enraged tigress. We are lucky that no one was killed, " said a

relative.*

On 2/21/08, Edwin Wiek <edwin.wiek wrote:

>

> Hi ,

>

> I did see the complete video of the " rescue " and it seems that whoever

> that

> was in charge didn't have a real clue what to do. The tigress was only

> half

> sedated taken out of the tree and then almost drowned in the small lake

> stuck in the catching nets as it tried to fight back. As the tigress was

> nicely positioned in the tree it was very easy to administer anesthesia

> and

> top it up when they found she was still struggling. The crowd cheering and

> shouting all around the tigress was not only a danger hazard for all them

> there, but must have kept the poor animal alert, not getting sedated

> properly either.

>

> That she made it out alive is pure luck given the circumstances.

>

> Edwin Wiek

>

> Wildlife Friends Foundation Thailand

>

> Nam Theun - Laos Wildlife Rescue Program

>

> _____

>

> aapn <aapn%40> [

> aapn <aapn%40>] On Behalf Of

>

> Wednesday, 20 February, 2008 20:58

> aapn <aapn%40>

> Re: (IN): Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

>

> *Debashish Chakraborty, who is associated with People for Animals - an

> animal welfare organisation, said it was the villagers who helped rescue

> the

> tigress while the forest officials were mere onlookers.*

> - The Indian

> Express, Kolkata edition, WEST BENGAL, page 3, February 19, 2008

> On 2/19/08, AZAM SIDDIQUI <azam24x7 (AT) gmail (DOT) <azam24x7%40gmail.com>

> com> wrote:

> >

> > Link:

> >

> > http://timesofindia

> <

> http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793

> 371.cms> .indiatimes.com/Pregnant_tigress_stoned/articleshow/2793371.cms

> >

> > Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

> > 19 Feb 2008, 0012 hrs IST,TIMES NEWS NETWORK & AGENCIES

> >

> > CANNING/NEW DELHI: These are hard times for the big cat. In another

> > example

> > of man-animal conflict, a pregnant tigress was badly injured by

> villagers

> > in

> > West Bengal on Monday. That's not all. Another tiger was found paralysed

> > in

> > Madhya Pradesh even as police confiscated three tiger skins in Kerala.

> >

> > The tigress had strayed into human habitations in the Sunderbans and had

> > injured three persons in South 24-Parganas district's Deulbari village.

> > Enraged villagers stoned the animal.

> >

> > The frightened big cat, which had to swim across two rivers, Matla and

> > Makri, to reach the village, climbed atop a banyan tree.

> >

> > Forest guards encircled the tree with a net hoping to trap the animal.

> But

> > the locals set the tree on fire. On seeing the flames, the scared animal

> > jumped on the net, tore it apart and escaped to an abandoned village

> hut.

> > Later the tigress became unconscious and forest officials captured it.

> It

> > was put in a cage and bundled onto a waiting launch. The forest guards

> > were

> > also pelted with stones by the villagers. Five of them are injured.

> >

> > In Madhya Pradesh, an eight-year-old male tiger was found injured with

> its

> > hind legs paralysed at Bandherwar village, 25 km from Satna town on

> > Sunday.

> > Panna Tiger Reserve authorities have tranquilised the tiger and taken it

> > to

> > Bhopal for treatment. Nobody knows how the injury occurred.

> >

> > Meanwhile, trading in tiger skin continues. According to information

> > collated by Wildlife Protection Society of India, in the past 48 hours,

> > forest officials have recovered three tiger skins in two separate cases

> in

> > Kerala's Wynad district. On February 16, 2008, two tiger skins were

> seized

> > at Sulthan Bathery.

> >

> > The forest department has arrested one person in this connection. In

> > another case, the skin of an adult tiger was confiscated at

> Mananthavady.

> > One person has been arrested in this case too.

> >

> > --

> > United against elephant polo

> > http://www.stopelep <http://www.stopelephantpolo.com> hantpolo.com

>

> __________ NOD32 2888 (20080220) Information __________

>

> This message was checked by NOD32 antivirus system.

> http://www.eset.com

>

February 21, 2008

Hi ,

I agree fully with you on the safety issue and for that reason believe that

the government personnel need to make sure that people stay out of the way

for both the animals and their own sake. An animal so heavily under stress

is hard to get under anesthesia for 100% and accidents tend to happen.

I hope they wil all learn form their mistakes, the questions is do they

realize they made mistakes? My experience in working with authorities here

is that they usually are in denial of making mistakes. ;-)

All well in Thailand and Laos,

Edwin

_____

[journalistandanimals]

Thursday, 21 February, 2008 16:25

edwin.wiek

Cc: aapn

Re: (IN): Pregnant tigress becomes victim of human wrath

Dear Edwin,

Please find attached an interview of Ashutosh Dhali, a

villager who was injured while trying to check if the tigress had been

sedated. Dhali was reportedly asked by the forest department to do so.

Whilst I totally acknowledge that the rescue of the tiger left a lot to be

desired, it must be kept in mind that in conflict situations with animals,

it is just as important to think about the safety of humans as it is to

voice concern about the animals.

Many thanks for posting your views. I trust you are well.

Best wishes and warm regards,

Mauled by tortured tigress, left bleeding at SSKM Hospital

Prithvijit Mitra, Times News Network, The Times of India, Kolkata, 21st

February, 2008

Kolkata: Ashutosh Dhali of Deulbari village, who was mauled by a tigress

when forest guards asked him to check on the tranquilized animal, lies

unattended and virtually uncared for at SSKM Hospital.

On Wednesday, 24 hours after the state government announced a reward for his

" bravery " and promised to bear all expenses for his treatment, Ashutosh lay

gritting his teeth without any doctor or nurse nearby. Barring a few

injections and painkillers on Tuesday night, Ashutosh says he has hardly

received any treatment. The massive wound on his left thigh kept bleeding

throughout the day but the hospital staff did not even bother to change the

bandage.

Although grievously injured, he was denied a bed at SSKM whena Joynagar

hospital sent him to Kolkata for critical care. He was only later shifted to

the Curzon ward. " I have asked the nurses repeatedly to dress my wound. It

has been bleeding and stinking since morning but they claim they are

'waiting for the doctor.' He has not visited the ward since last night, "

Ashutosh told Times of India. His son, Bipul, too, was worried about his

father. " We trust the hospital and we have no choice. He has to be treated

here, " he said.

Recounting his chilling encounter with the tigress on Monday morning, 45

year old Ashutosh confirmed he was asked by forest officials to check if the

animal had fallen unconscious after being hit by a tranquilizer dart. The

forest department has vehemently denied asking any villagers to check on the

tigress.

" Along with my two neighbours - Lalit Naskar and Gobindo Saradas - I

gingerly approached the palm tree on which the tigress had perched itself.

It was not moving so we thought the shot had taken effect. We tied a rope

around its legs and pulled it down. The moment it touched the ground, the

tigress stood up with a blood-curdling roar and leapt at us. While Lalit and

Gobindo ran in other directions, I jumped into the adjacent pond, " Ashutosh

said.

It turned out to be a misadventure that could have cost his life. The

tigress, too, jumped into the pond and attacked Ashutosh. He somehow made it

to the bank and was clambering up when the enraged animal lunged at him,

sunk its fangs into his left thigh and ripped a chunk of flesh.

Ashutosh was rendered immobile but he didn't lose his nerve. " I dragged

myself up and asked my friends to take me to a hospital. I was not scared,

but very shaken, " said the farmer.

He was taken to the Jamtala sub-divisional hospital where doctors referred

him to SSKM. " I would rather go to Canning Hospital now. They are experts in

treating tiger attack victims, " Ashutosh pleaded. Even though his relatives

are peeved at the treatment at SSKM, they have decided not to move him out.

" His condition is delicate and it could be risky, " said Bipul.

Ashutosh's family blames the forest department for putting him and other

villagers in danger. " They goaded us into taking the lead in the operation.

It was extremely dangerous. We are not experienced in handling wild animals,

let alone an enraged tigress. We are lucky that no one was killed, " said a

relative.