KOLKATA: In a tragic incident that underscores the perilous life in the Sundarbans, another fisherman has fallen victim to a tiger attack within a week. Ram Pad Beraman, 45, from Chhota Mollakhali Kalidaspur village in Gosaba, South 24 Parganas district, was fatally mauled while crabbing in the dense mangrove forests.
Police reports indicate that Beraman and his companions had obtained the necessary permits and ventured into the jungle on Tuesday. Deep inside the thick foliage, a Royal Bengal tiger pounced unexpectedly, inflicting severe injuries. His fellow fishermen bravely intervened, scaring off the beast and rushing the wounded man back to the village by boat. Despite immediate admission to a nearby health center, Beraman succumbed to his injuries.
Sundarbans Coastal Police Station officers arrived promptly at the scene. The body has been sent for post-mortem, scheduled for Wednesday. This marks the second such fatality in recent days, highlighting the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in this UNESCO World Heritage site.
Divisional Forest Officer Nisha Goswami of South 24 Parganas (South) Division emphasized that the victims were adhering to forest department guidelines. ‘They had permissions and were collecting crabs responsibly. We continuously educate locals on precautions like staying in groups and using deterrents,’ she stated.
The Sundarbans, home to over 100 Bengal tigers, sees frequent such encounters as impoverished fishermen risk their lives for livelihood. Beraman leaves behind a wife and two children. Just ten days prior, on February 8, another man was dragged away and killed near Kalas Island in Patharpratima block, his body recovered the next day in front of his wife.
Experts call for enhanced patrolling, better fencing, and alternative income sources to mitigate these deadly clashes. As tiger numbers rise due to conservation efforts, the pressure on human lives in fringe areas intensifies, demanding urgent policy interventions.