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LUCKNOW, India — A man-eating tiger in northern India has now claimed 10 victims. Hunters are combing the area, but the tiger has thus far eluded them.
Terrified locals have dubbed the enigmatic killer the “Mysterious Queen.”
The tiger’s first victim was a 65-year-old man whose body was discovered Dec. 29, 2013. The most recent victim was a 50-year-old man killed last month. Some of the victims have been mauled beyond recognition.
According to a CNN report, many villagers in the region believe the tiger lost her cubs and is out for revenge. Fearful of the creature’s wrath, they set traps or tried to lure it in with bait. They’re armed with rifles and farming tools. Yet there has been no success and the deaths continue.
While this man-eater seems to be exceptionally stealthy, it isn’t necessarily staying away from populated areas.
“When a tiger turns into a man-eater, it becomes faster and shrewder,” tiger expert Nazim Khan told CNN. “A normal tiger would change its course at the hint of people nearby and lose itself in the jungle. A man-eater does the opposite: It uses an uncanny sense of sight and touch to move toward people.”
Authorities believe the female Bengal tiger has strayed from her normal territory in northern India’s Jim Corbett National Park. The park is the oldest national park in India and holds a substantial population of tigers.
News reports suggest that the tiger is prowling an area that covers roughly 80 miles.
Though efforts have been made to capture the tiger alive, the Indian Express reports the rising death toll has prompted authorities to rethink the issue. A professional hunter has been given permission to shoot to kill.
This is not the only recent case of fatal tiger attacks in India. In January, tiger in the southern state of Tamil Nadu claimed three victims. Earlier, three people were killed by a tiger in the southern state of Karnataka. That tiger was successfully captured.
It is believed that there are less than 1,800 wild tigers in India, but as their habitat shrinks they increasingly come in contact with humans.
Grant Olsen joined the KSL.com team in 2012. He covers outdoor adventures, travel, product reviews and other interesting things. You can contact him at grantorrin@gmail.com.
