A tigress, believed to be responsible for the deaths of two people in Ranthambore National Park, has been captured near a local hotel. The incidents have raised concerns about human-wildlife conflict and prompted authorities to take action.
The tigress, known as Kankati (meaning "torn ear" in Hindi), is the daughter of the renowned tigress Arrowhead (T-84). She is suspected of fatally attacking a seven-year-old boy on April 16, 2025, while he was accompanying his grandparents on a religious pilgrimage near the Trinetra Ganesh Temple. More recently, on May 11, 2025, she allegedly attacked and killed a 40-year-old forest ranger named Devendra Chaudhary while he was on duty near the Jogi Mahal area. Eyewitnesses reported that the tigress grabbed Chaudhary by the neck and dragged him into the forest.
Following the two fatal attacks, the forest department initiated efforts to locate and capture the tigress. The decision to capture her was hastened after she was spotted moving towards a hotel on the periphery of the forest area. Forest authorities tranquilized her to prevent further incidents. She will be kept in an enclosure while authorities decide whether to relocate her.
Some conservationists attribute the tigress's aggression to poor forest management practices, including baiting techniques that may have reduced the cubs' fear of humans. According to reports, Arrowhead, Kankati's mother, had become unable to hunt due to a hip injury, and reserve workers began providing her with bait in 2023. Experts suggest that this repeated feeding, often delivered by vehicles, may have caused Kankati and other cubs to lose their natural wariness of humans.
The incidents have sparked outrage and concern among local communities. Following the death of Devendra Chaudhary, Rajasthan's Environment Minister Sanjay Sharma visited the ranger's family, offering condolences and assuring government support, including a job for his widow in the education department and financial assistance.
The attacks have also prompted the forest department to take precautionary measures, including suspending safaris in two of the park's ten zones and restricting public access to the Trinetra Ganesh Temple. Additionally, authorities have prohibited pedestrian movement along the road where the attacks occurred.
This is not the first time Ranthambore has faced issues with tigers that have attacked humans. In the past, a tiger named Ustad was linked to the deaths of four people between 2010 and 2015 and was eventually relocated to a zoo.
The recent incidents highlight the ongoing challenges of managing human-wildlife conflict in protected areas. Balancing the conservation of tigers with the safety and well-being of local communities requires careful planning, effective management practices, and community engagement.
