Official vows to protect Kanchanaburi locals against tiger attacks

After a Karen man was seriously injured after three tigers attacked him in a Kanchanaburi forest in January, the director of Protected Area Regional Office 3 says patrols from two national parks will guard locals against attacks. The man managed to climb up a tree to escape, but the tigers killed two of his dogs. He was taken to a hospital with wounds all over his body. Shortly after the attack, park officials banned entry into forest areas for 90 days to keep locals safe.

But animal safety is still a problem. Camera traps in the forest caught a tiger eating a dead buffalo sometime between February 4-7, close to where the attack happened. The director said it’s believed to be one of the same tigers that attacked the Karen man. Tension between human safety and wildlife conservation is an issue with tiger attacks. Even though the director said patrols would protect locals from tiger attacks, he also said they would guard the tiger against danger. The tiger is disabled, and has only three legs.

Last week, after five people allegedly poached two Bengal tigers, Thai officials banned people from raising cows in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Southern parts of Western forests. They also started a joint committee to make a 10 year plan to preserve wild tigers.

Source: Bangkok Post | Bangkok Post