Tiger crosses Indian border into Mithi, mauls two villagers

Tiger attacks two villagers, Haroon Nehri and Haleem Jhanji, severely injuring them.

MITHI:

An Indian tiger strayed into Pakistan and entered a frontier village of Mithi district. It attacked two villagers, Haroon Nehri and Haleem Jhanji, severely injuring them.

The tiger had crossed the border and strolled into Somrahar village, near Nagarparkar on Sunday. After attacking two villagers, the animal ran into a nearby jungle.

The Paramilitary Rangers, Chottal post, chased the tiger down and shot him dead. The animal was then taken to the Rangers Headquarters, Nagarparkar. The injured were taken to Nagarparkar Health Centre and their condition is stable.

The Rangers, however, refused to comment on why the animal was killed and not taken to the wildlife department.

Mithi is famous for its peacocks and other rare birds but the area does not have any tigers, monkeys or bulls in the area which is why the people were sure that the tiger had come from India. Monkeys and cattle keep crossing into Pakistan but this tiger was a first.

Villagers believe that the animal strayed from Rajasthan and could easily cross as there are no bars marking the Indo-Pak border. Tharparkar has India on three sides of its border.

PTI added that Bharu Mal Amerani, an activist working to protect and preserve wildlife and environment in the Thar region, expressed regret over the killing of the endangered tiger. “People should have informed the wildlife department which could have taken measures to save the tiger,” he said.

Published in The Express Tribune, March 8^th, 2011.