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

Theory 2 - UNNATURAL DISTURBANCE:

May is also when collectors travel through the forest searching for honeycomb.  

The collectors spend most of their time looking up into trees for signs of bees, or looking at their feet so they don't trip. In the dense bush they can almost step right on top of a tiger before sighting it. The rush of collectors disturbs the entire forest area.

Honey-collecting time also coincides with the breeding season. Any tigress who feels her cubs are threatened will defend them.

Theory 3 - LACK OF PREY:

The Sundarbans has very little choice of prey, mainly chital deer and boar. Bad storms reduce the amount of prey even more, and tigers turn to feeding on fish.

They raid nets and may kill any fisherman who approaches while they are feeding.

Fishermen sleep in boats and they store their catches beneath planks in their boats. Any hungry tiger approaching a boat sees only a rather juicy (and sleeping) meal.

Of course, some disappearances of this type are due to crocodiles; men knocked unconscious during a fall, then being carried off by the tide; or the wild boar which will also eat flesh given the opportunity. The tiger takes the blame and it further inflates the story of the 'man-eaters of the Sundarbans'.

Theory 4 - LEARNT BEHAVIOUR:

Cubs learn how, and what, to hunt from their mothers. Once a group in a particular area has learnt to predate on man, the tendency to do so may be passed onto the young.

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

Mating | Early Days | Raising Cubs | Hunting & Captive Feeding | Water Play | Sleeping | Tree Climbing
The Man-Eater | Myths & Facts | Conflict with other Animals

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