4th September

The Tribune has been following the Manipur Tiger for several months now. This has been an unusual story, as this Tiger, referred to some by the name
“Shaitan” has ventured beyond its natural territory. The Tribune began reporting on this unusual case, when Aran Ramprakash’s was found mauled at the edge of the jungle. Investigations pointed to a tiger attack. This is very rare, as Tigers do not normally attack humans unless they impinge upon their natural habitat.

Ramprakash’s scars and wounds were made by an animal estimated to weigh more than 300kg, implying a cat nearly 4 metres in length. This makes it an immense beast and far larger than a Bengal Tiger. When questioned, the Tiger Protection Force (Rangers) had surmised that it had entered India via Bhutan.

I have keenly followed the Tiger’s apparent trail into Uttra Khand, and the then the forests of Himachal Pardesh. The Rangers have not been involved since the attack on Ramprakash, as they can not reconcile the behaviour of “Shaitan” to a normal Tiger. When questioned, they said Tigers normally stay in one area with a plentiful supply of food. This animal has restricted its attacks generally on deer and wild boar, around the edges of the jungle.

My recent research has bought forward evidence that should make this a very interesting case for the Tiger Force. There has been evidence that there are hunters also pursuing the animal. There have been springed traps on the way, many with dead deer, but no Tiger. Although I have not been able to get the beast on film, I am sure this evidence will bring the Rangers and Police on board again. Shaitan has not attacked any humans since Ramprakash. Locals in this area have seen oriental men with some locals. This is worrying. India has half of all the world’s tigers and they need to be protected. Project Tiger has been going since 1973. There has been a 60% decline in tiger population since the project began, almost exclusively due to poaching. Tiger skin and bones are valuable, especially in Chinese culture. We once again publicly ask the TPF to look into this matter. It is definitely the same tiger. The traps alone should be reason to take action.

We believe Shaitan is currently in Himachal Pardesh. Last night a snare was found, which missed him, but caught a deer. Somehow the Tiger seems to have known not to touch the poor animal, and managed to kill one not too far away from the trap. Blood drops were found in the area, on branches and the ground, near spent cartridges. We have sent these for DNA testing. The Police have now begun to look for the Poachers, asking around if anyone have seen a couple of oriental men, a black one and two Indians. Tracks suggest that the Tiger may have been shot in one leg, and could be limping. It seems as if one of the hunters were damaged also. The TPF was advised about the evidence we have obtained two hours before going to press, so it is expected that they will send Rangers into Himachal Pardesh.

One person I interviewed swears he saw a bloodied man crawl out of the forest early evening. He showed me the area where this person was sited. There were the usual Tiger tracks. Over the weeks I have studied the tracks and can state one very unusual fact, the paw prints were not only large, but shaped almost like a human hand. This has made the case more interesting. Some superstious people have implied supernatural goings on. There are rumours of a Were Tiger, exacting revenge for something. A certain proportion of the population genuinely that the Tiger may be a man who has transformed himself in to Shaitan, perhaps with the objective of taking on the poachers. Such thoughts have no purchase nowadays, but certainly some things can’t be explained away. When I next report on the Manipur Tiger, I hope to have established whether this was a hoax or genuine. Mean while please look out for these poachers.