Bhopal, Oct 7 (IANS) A tiger is believed to have killed a middle-aged woman in Kanha Tiger Reserve, an official said Tuesday. “The partially eaten body of a middle-aged woman, Sukhna Bai, was recovered by forest department staff and villagers in the Supkhar range of tiger Reserve Sunday,” additional principal chief conservator of forests (wildlife) H.S. Pabla told IANS by phone.

Sukhna Bai, a resident of village Sukhdi in the Supkhar Range of the Tiger Reserve, went Saturday into the forest to collect leaves to make bowls. But an animal attacked her and dragged her away while she was plucking leaves.

“Other villagers, who accompanied Sukhna Bai, heard her shrieks but could not do anything to help her. They, however, came back and informed the forest department staff which launched search operations Sunday and recovered the body,” Pabla said adding that “pug marks found at the spot suggest that she was killed by a male tiger”.

This is the fourth incident of attack on human beings in the area in the last year and a half. In 2007, three people - one each in May, September and October - were reported killed by wild animals from the same area. Then too, a male tiger was cited to be the animal behind the attacks.

The forest department has announced a compensation of Rs.100,000 for the next of kin of the killed woman.