A horrific incident unfolded in Assam's Golaghat district as villagers hunted down a Royal Bengal tiger, accused of threatening their livestock and lives. According to forest officials, the tiger was slaughtered by a sizeable mob, with reports indicating nearly a thousand residents participated in the attack. Local villagers justified their actions after the animal was believed to have been responsible for killing livestock in the area.
Officials confirmed that the tiger died from sharp wounds rather than gunfire, and its dismembered carcass was later retrieved for autopsy following the violent event. The state forest department has opened an investigation and condemned the incident. Lawmaker Mrinal Saikia expressed his dismay on social media, emphasizing that nature exists for all living beings, not just humans.
This incident marks the third reported killing of a tiger in Assam this year, underscoring an alarming trend of conflicts between humans and tigers, often attributed to habitat encroachment. While the state's tiger population has increased significantly, from 70 in 2006 to 190 in 2019 due to conservation efforts, incidents like this reveal the challenges posed by inadequate protection of tiger corridors and diminishing habitats.
The Royal Bengal tiger, classified as a protected species under India's Wildlife Protection Act (1972), faces ongoing threats from poaching and conflict with humans, prompting calls for enhanced conservation measures.
