Order Issued to Capture or Kill Man-Eating Tiger in Salyan After Three Deaths in a Week

Authorities have issued an order to capture or kill a man-eating tiger that has caused terror in Kalimati, Salyan, after killing three people within a week.

The decision was taken following discussions with members of the District Security Committee after the tiger posed a serious threat to public safety. The tiger, which reportedly strayed from Banke National Park, has been responsible for multiple fatal attacks in Salyan and neighboring Surkhet district.

On Poush 23, the tiger killed 57-year-old Ganga Devi Saru Magar of Bheriganga Municipality–5, Geruwani, Surkhet. She was attacked while cutting grass in a forest near her home at Ghuiyabari of Kalimati Rural Municipality–7, near the Salyan–Surkhet border.

Similarly, on Poush 25, the tiger killed 42-year-old Dhansari Rawat of Kalimati Rural Municipality–7 while she was collecting firewood in a nearby forest. On Poush 28, the tiger attacked and killed 65-year-old Chandra Bahadur Khaptadi of Hattidhunga, Ward No. 6, while he was returning home from a water mill. In addition to human casualties, the tiger has also killed several livestock belonging to local residents.

Due to the continued threat, residents of wards 5, 6, and 7 of Kalimati Rural Municipality are living in fear and are reluctant to leave their homes.

Following recommendations from the ward offices and Kalimati Rural Municipality to eliminate the man-eating tiger, the District Security Committee held an informal meeting and formally requested Banke National Park to implement the order.

According to Tek Bahadur Rawal, Chief of the Division Forest Office, Salyan, the order was issued based on the recommendation of a committee formed under Section 10 (Ka and Kha) of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, 2029, and Rule 36 (Ka) of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Regulations, 2030. He stated that, as per the order, district security forces are authorized to capture or kill the tiger.