In a tragic incident near the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in Bihar’s West Champaran district, a 67-year-old farmer, Mathura Mahto, was mauled to death by a tiger while working in his fields in Ghoraghat village on Monday, August 11, 2025. The same tiger also injured a forest guard during a recovery operation, intensifying concerns about human-wildlife conflict in the region, according to VTR Field Director Nesamani K.
The incident unfolded in the late afternoon when Mahto, a resident of Ghoraghat village, was tending to his crops in a field close to the reserve’s boundary. Villagers noticed his absence and, during a search, discovered tiger pugmarks near his work area, prompting them to alert forest officials. A team of patrolling guards was dispatched to locate Mahto, only to find his body in a dense bush, partially concealed by vegetation.
As the team attempted to retrieve the body, the male tiger, still lurking nearby, launched an attack, injuring one of the forest guards. The guard was rushed to a nearby hospital, where his condition was reported as stable and out of danger. Mahto’s body was handed over to his grieving family after completing legal formalities, including a post-mortem examination to confirm the cause of death.
Following the attack, forest officials launched an extensive search operation to locate the tiger. On Tuesday morning, August 12, 2025, the animal was found near Ghoraghat village. Nesamani K noted that the tiger appeared old and severely anaemic, suggesting it may have been driven to venture outside the reserve due to weakness or inability to hunt its natural prey. Authorities are now deliberating whether to relocate the tiger to the Sanjay Gandhi Botanical Garden (Patna Zoo) for rehabilitation and medical treatment, a decision that underscores the challenges of managing aging or ailing wildlife.
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The Valmiki Tiger Reserve, Bihar’s only tiger reserve, spans approximately 900 square kilometers and has seen a significant increase in its tiger population, from 31 in 2018 to 54 in 2022, according to the ‘Status of Tigers: Co-predators & Prey in India-2022’ report by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) and Wildlife Institute of India. This 75% surge reflects successful conservation efforts but also heightens the risk of human-wildlife encounters as tigers stray into nearby villages in search of food or territory.
This incident is not an isolated case in West Champaran. The region has witnessed multiple tiger attacks in recent years, including the killing of a 60-year-old man, Indradeo Mahto, in September 2024, and a notorious “man-eating” tiger that claimed nine lives in 2022, prompting a rare “shoot at sight” order. These incidents highlight the growing tension between conservation efforts and the safety of rural communities living near the reserve. Villagers in Ghoraghat and surrounding areas have expressed frustration over recurring attacks, with some claiming that promised measures, such as enhanced patrolling and CCTV surveillance, have not been adequately implemented.
In response to the latest tragedy, forest officials have intensified patrols and deployed tracking teams equipped with drones to monitor tiger movements. Nesamani K has urged villagers to avoid venturing near the forest and to report any tiger sightings immediately. The forest department is also working to provide compensation to Mahto’s family, with standard protocols offering up to ₹10 lakh in such cases, as noted in previous incidents.
The attack has reignited discussions about balancing tiger conservation with human safety. Experts suggest that the increasing tiger population, while a conservation success, strains the reserve’s resources, pushing some animals into human settlements. Factors such as habitat encroachment, prey scarcity, and the presence of older or weaker tigers may exacerbate these conflicts. Community leaders are calling for stronger preventive measures, including solar fencing and awareness campaigns to educate residents about coexisting with wildlife.
As investigations continue, the Ghoraghat community mourns the loss of Mathura Mahto, a respected farmer whose death has left a void in the village. The incident serves as a stark reminder of the delicate balance between preserving India’s wildlife heritage and protecting the lives of those living on the edges of its forests.
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