Tragic Tiger Attack: Boy Killed Near Ranthambore Temple

A seven-year-old boy named Kartik Suman was killed by a tiger in Ranthambore National Park while visiting a temple with family. Eyewitnesses report the tiger attacked unexpectedly, leading to concerns about safety along the road to the temple. The incident has prompted questions from officials about wildlife management and public safety in the area.

A tragic incident occurred in Rajasthan’s Ranthambore National Park, where a seven-year-old boy named Kartik Suman was killed by a tiger. The attack happened as the boy was visiting the temple with his family, specifically while his grandmother held his hand. The tiger pounced unexpectedly, biting the child’s neck and dragging him into the undergrowth.

Suman’s family had traveled from a village in Bundi district to visit the temple. Before the attack, they took cheerful photographs by the roadside, showing the boy smiling in a blue t-shirt next to a monkey. Eyewitnesses reported that the tiger struck as the group returned after praying.

Forest Department teams later recovered the boy’s body, which was subsequently returned to his family after a routine post-mortem examination. Although the tiger responsible has not been identified, there are three female tigers known to frequent the area.

The incident has raised concerns about safety along the heavily trafficked road leading to the Trinetra Ganesh temple. Agriculture Minister Kirodi Lal Meena offered condolences to the grieving family, questioning the road’s safety measures and highlighting the increased occurrence of tiger sightings in the area.

Ranthambore National Park is home to over 70 tigers. The territory of adult female tigers ranges between 15 to 20 square kilometers, while males can occupy areas ten times larger. Given the park’s core area totals less than 300 square kilometers, territorial disputes and human encounters are becoming increasingly frequent due to the search for territory among individual tigers.

This heartbreaking incident underscores the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in Ranthambore National Park, where the presence of tigers has been rising. It raises critical issues regarding public safety measures and wildlife management in areas frequented by both tigers and tourists. The tragic loss of young Kartik Suman serves as a reminder of the dangers inherent in wildlife habitats adjacent to human activity.

Original Source: www.ndtv.com