Tiger Attacks Forest Guard: Wildlife Rescue Gone Wrong

A five-year-old male tiger that was struck by a vehicle on National Highway 48 in Karnataka state's Davangere district has been captured and transferred to the Atal Bihari Vajpayee Zoological Park for medical treatment. The capture was completed only after the injured animal attacked one of the forest guards attempting to rescue it.

The tiger was found beside the highway suffering from injuries to its eye and hip area, after being hit the previous night by a passing vehicle as it crossed the road. A team from the Forest Department, accompanied by veterinarians, arrived at the scene and administered a sedative to the animal.

Before the tranquilizer could take full effect, the tiger leaped at one of the workers and knocked him to the ground. His colleagues quickly intervened, pushing the animal away with a stick and allowing the team member to retreat to safety. The sedation was then completed and the tiger was successfully captured.

The team member injured in the incident was taken to a hospital for medical treatment, suffering from scratches on his hand, leg, and chest. His condition has been described as stable.

Officials noted that the crowd and noise surrounding the scene aggravated the tiger's aggression before the sedative took effect. A 47-second video of the incident was shared on social media, showing the moments of the attack, the escape, and the efforts to control the animal on the roadside.

Similar cases of tigers entering populated areas have been documented in India in recent months. In one instance, a wild tiger entered a Mercedes-Benz factory and caused production to halt for two days until it was captured.

Wildlife experts warn that encounters between humans and tigers are becoming increasingly common due to the destruction of natural habitats and the expansion of residential areas into wildlife territories. In another case documented this year, a snow leopard attacked a skier who approached too closely while attempting to photograph it.