Armed with sticks, nets and sharp weapons, the villagers then chased the big cat, which took shelter inside the kitchen of a villager.

Around 10.30 am, a team of forest officials arrived at the spot after they were informed by the villagers.

After much effort they were able to tranquillise the tiger. Later, it was taken to Sajnekhali.

“The tiger was given a tranquilliser shot and then rescued. We will treat it if necessary and then release it in the wild,” said A K Raha, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests.

“Earlier people would beat tigers to death but now they have become aware and they inform the forest department,” added Raha.

The incidents of tigers entering human habitat have increased in recent months, which many attribute to shrinking vegetation. (See box)

“The administration has put up iron fences in areas where the villages share boundary with the forest. This has brought down the tiger attacks. But very often, people cut through the fences to enter the forest area and then tigers come into the locality through those areas,” said Col Shakti Banerjee, Honorary Director, Wildlife Protection Society of India.

Man-tiger conflicts in Sunderbans
June 1, 2008: A fisherman was injured and his son killed at Kultali forest area by a Royal Bengal tiger

March 1, 2008: Gayatri Sardar was mauled by a tiger when she went for fishing in the Herobhanga forest of the Sunderbans

February 17, 2008: A pregnant tigress strayed into the Kultali villages and the forest officials had to rescue it from being beaten to death by the locals