Man-Eaters

Man-Eaters - Page 1&2:Why Cats Attack | 3&4: The Real Facts | 5&6: Jim Corbett | 7&8: The Sundarbans |
9&10: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve | 11&12: Reducing Attacks | 13&14: Tiger Attack Stories

Tanning the tiger:

During  one night in 1968, a 6-man US Marine patrol were taking turns to rest. They were well hidden from the Vietnamese in dense bush, but were particularly uptight with  visibility down almost to nil.

Suddenly, one of the patrol members felt pulling on his leg. He could just discern a large shape standing beside him before it slipped into the darkness.

Over the radio the patrol leader reported the team had movement around them. He was now faced with the decision of remaining still and quiet, or taking aggressive action.

The next transmission over the radio was anything but quiet and indicated the group was also anything but still.

The black shape had returned, grabbed a patrol member and the Marines had opened fire. It was then they discovered the shape belonged to a huge tiger.

As the shots would surely have attracted unwanted attention, the patrol was advised to immediately clear the area and proceed to a helicopter extract Landing Zone. They did so -- after negotiating over the radio about taking the tiger.

The terrain was tough. 



The tiger weighed 400 pound.

The weather was so bad it was debatable if the team could successfully be extracted. Conditions at the time were monsoonal.

After a great deal of effort and struggling, the increased danger involved in trying to evade enemy patrols, while carrying a 400 pound tiger, made it clear that the entire animal could not be carted out.

The patrol leader made the decision to skin the cat and the team made it to their pickup point.

In the weather conditions the helicopter was unable to land forcing the team to keep on the move.

After two more humid days their tiger hide was starting to deteriorate. The next radio exchange between the patrol and base went something like this:

Patrol Leader: "I need to know how to get out with this tiger skin intact."

Bn CP: "There is a Marine here who grew up on a farm and says he knows a bit about tanning skins"

Patrol Leader: "So?"

Bn CP: "He said you have to pour tannic acid on the skin."

Patrol Leader: "And where in the hell do I get tannic acid way out here?" 

Bn CP: "He said urine has tannic acid in it. Piss on the tiger!"

Patrol Leader: "Roger."

The vision comes to mind of 6 bone tired Marines standing in a circle around the tiger skin and tanning it.

The next day, the weather broke and the team were extracted. Back at base they posed proudly for the photographers.

Within the next 48 hours decomposition claimed the remains of the tiger and it smelt positively horrible.  

Man-Eaters - Page 1&2:Why Cats Attack | 3&4: The Real Facts | 5&6: Jim Corbett | 7&8: The Sundarbans |
9&10: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve | 11&12: Reducing Attacks | 13&14: Tiger Attack Stories

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