Thaindian News

Jaipur, March 9 (IANS) A tiger mauled to death a 19-year old youth in Ranthambore National Park in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district, police said Friday.

The body of the deceased was recovered Thursday night. It is the second incident of death due to tiger attack over a month in the park. A tiger had killed a 50-year-old mother of a guide Feb 17.

According to the police, the deceased was identified as Ashfaq Ahmed, a resident of a nearby village who had ventured into the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve area to collect fire wood.

“He had left his house Thursday morning. When he did not return till evening, the family members informed the police and forest department. His mauled body was found on a hill near Mirza Ghati area late night,” said a forest department officer.

“The pug marks confirmed that the youth was killed by a tiger,” said the officer. The family members demonstrated in front of the park demanding compensation.

Ranthambore National Park is home to about 40 tigers over an area of around 400 sq km. If the adjoining Sawai Man Singh Sanctuary, over 175 km from Jaipur, is taken into consideration, the total area is around 500 sq km.

The park was declared a wildlife sanctuary in 1957, and came under the central government’s Project Tiger scheme in 1974. It was designated a national park in 1981.