The body of 30-year-old Kamal Bisht, suspected to have been killed by a tiger, was discovered in Bhadyuni village of Bhimtal block on Friday morning. He had attended a wedding on Thursday night but never returned home. His mutilated remains were found approximately 500 meters from his residence.
Third Incident in a Month
This incident follows another fatal attack three days earlier in the same locality, where a woman was killed and her body was found nearly 2 kilometers inside a forest. In total, this marks the third such reported incident in the past month, heightening fears among local residents.
Challenges in Identifying the Animal
Officials stated that identifying the animals involved in the attacks, which took place in late 2025 and early 2026, has been difficult. Samples collected in recent cases were inconclusive, and scat analysis has proved unreliable due to overlapping tiger and leopard habitats in the region.
Earlier this month, Hansi Devi was killed in Surya village on April 4, after which a tiger was captured on April 7. Another attack was reported on April 22, followed by the latest incident. Villagers suspect a tiger is responsible for these attacks.
Rising Tiger Population
Data from the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) indicates a sharp rise in the tiger population in the region. In the Ramnagar forest division, numbers increased from 67 in 2022 to 93 in 2026, an increase of nearly 40%. Villagers reported that they are forced to enter forests daily for fodder. “We have no option but to go into the forest,” a resident said, demanding that the animal be declared a man-eater and that compensation and a job for a victim’s family member be provided.
Demands for Safety Measures
Village head Vipin Palariya stated, “We need solar lights and fencing to protect residents.” Bhimtal block head Harish Singh Bisht said warnings about tiger sightings were ignored: “Concerns were raised, but dismissed.”
Official Response
DFO Dhruv Martolia said surveillance and capture measures are in place. He dismissed the allegations made by the village head as baseless and stated that a patrolling team was sent on Thursday evening. The victim’s body has been sent for post-mortem, and the exact cause of death will be clear after the report is received.
