Park Ranger Mauled By Tigress To Death While Surveying A Tiger Reserve

A 46-year-old woman has been mauled to death by a tigress while surveying a tiger reserve in India.

Swati Dhumane, a forest ranger, was conducting a sign survey under the All India Tiger Estimation 2022 program in the protected area of Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve (TATR) Saturday. She just started her survey on foot alongside three helpers around 7 a.m. when the tigress pounded on her. The animal dragged her inside the forest, killing her eventually, reported The Times of India.

The group had walked 4 kilometers into the forest when they encountered the tigress, known as Maya, on their path. Initially, the group waited 30 minutes for the feline to leave. But when the animal didn't move, Dhumane decided to take a detour through the forest.

"Generally, on such occasions, it is advisable to return and do the remaining part later when the path is clear," Nandkishore Kale, deputy conservator of forest, said as per The Indian Express.

"It was then that the tigress sensed a movement inside the forest. It followed the four persons and attacked Dhumane who was walking behind the three laborers and dragged her inside," Jitendra Ramgaokar, field director at TATR, told the outlet.

The helpers raised an alarm but could not save Dhumane as the bamboo clumps in the area were thick.

Authorities later recovered Dhumane's body. It has been sent for an autopsy.

Sign survey, which is the process of recording tiger presence such as pugmarks, scat and scratches on trees, has been suspended in the area.

Maya is a 10-year-old tigress and her sudden aggressive behavior has raised concerns among experts who have tracked the feline all her life.

"Tigers, particularly those in the tourist zones, are not known to attack humans. Tourists make a beeline and move too close to tigers but never does the tiger attack them. Maya's attack on the forest guard is, thus, very shocking to say the least," Bandu Dhotre, wildlife activist and State Wildlife Board member said as per the outlet.

Maharashtra Chief Minister Uddav Thackeray announced that ₹15 lakh (approximately $20,000) will be given to the victim's family, according to The Hindu. Dhumane's husband will also be employed by the State Forest Department.