Nagpur: In yet another tragic case of human-wildlife conflict, a 58-year-old man was found dead after being allegedly mauled by a tiger in the protected forest area near Kalbhairav, Parseoni in Nagpur district. The incident occurred on Sunday, July 27, and his partially devoured body was discovered the following day.

According to forest officials, the deceased, Madhukar Bapurao Raut, a resident of Kalbhairav Peth, had gone into the forest area around 9 AM on Saturday to graze his goats and also collect wild vegetables, including dumrabhendi (tekode), which is a common monsoon-season forest produce. When he failed to return home by evening, his family informed the Forest Department, prompting an immediate search operation.

A joint team comprising PRT (Protection Rapid Team), a Dog Squad from Nagalwadi, and forest staff from Parshivni range launched the search late Saturday night. On Monday, July 28, Raut’s partially eaten body was found in Compartment No. 238A of the Peth Parsodi Beat, Survey No. 175, in the protected forest area of Mouza Kalbhairav. The police were informed, and after conducting a spot inspection, the body was sent for post-mortem to the Rural Hospital in Parshivni.

Preliminary investigation by the Forest Department suggests that Raut was attacked while collecting dumrabhendi in the forest. Officials confirmed this was the second such fatal tiger attack in recent days, triggered by people entering deep forest zones during the monsoon in search of seasonal forest produce.

In response to the incident, the Forest Department has appealed to residents of villages adjoining forest areas to avoid entering the jungle for wild vegetables or forest produce, especially during the monsoon season when tiger activity is known to increase.

Further investigation by the Forest Department into the presence and movement of the tiger in the area is ongoing.