A 28-year-old worker survived a tiger attack inside Jim Corbett National Park after his colleague struck the animal three times with a wooden stick and rescued him.
A 28-year-old worker survived a tiger attack inside Jim Corbett National Park.
A 28-year-old daily-wage worker survived a tiger attack inside Jim Corbett wildlife sanctuary after a colleague struck the animal three times with a wooden stick and rescued him, news agency Press Trust of India reported.
The incident highlights the risks faced by around 700 forest guards and other workers who patrol the nearly 1,300-square-kilometre park on foot. A memorial at the park bears the names of 33 personnel killed in animal attacks, with no space left on the plaque for another name.
Pitambar was part of a four-member team on a routine patrol on July 20. Two members were walking ahead when Ramnath, who was between them and Pitambar, realised that Pitambar was no longer following them.
When Ramnath turned around, he saw a tiger sitting on top of Pitambar. With little time to react, he struck the animal three times with the wooden stick he was carrying.
The tiger released Pitambar and moved into the bushes. “Give me your hand,” Ramnath told him as he helped him stand and move away from the spot.
“Galat jagah pakad liya chacha,” Pitambar told Ramnath, saying the tiger had bitten him in the wrong place — his neck. Pitambar calls Ramnath “uncle”, while Ramnath treats him like a son.
The bite was not deep, and Pitambar survived after receiving timely help. Forest staff gave him first aid before taking him to Ramnagar and then to Kashipur for treatment.
Not all forest workers have been as fortunate. Dharampal Negi, a forester who has worked for 37 years, told PTI that before setting out on patrol, workers often tell themselves that four people are entering the forest but only three may return.
Many of those killed are soon forgotten, while some bodies have never been recovered. When the country’s oldest national park decided to build a memorial for guards killed in animal attacks, officials took 18 months to compile a list of 33 people.
The plaque at a museum near the Dhangarhi gate has no room for another name. Museum staff hope that another or larger plaque will never be needed.
Around 700 forest guards, most of them daily-wage workers, patrol the park in groups of four and in shifts. The park covers nearly 1,300 square kilometres, including more than 500 square kilometres of core area.
They patrol on foot from outposts located across the forest. Only one member of each group carries a gun, while the others carry wooden sticks.
Residents say they and the hundreds of tourists who visit the park for safaris every day owe their safety to the forest guards.
Miteshwar Anand, Assistant Commissioner of GST, said the guards risk their lives not only to stop poachers and illegal tree felling but also to protect animals.
Their work requires them to identify signs that an animal may be in distress. If they see a limping elephant or an injured tiger, they alert veterinary and rescue teams, he said.
The general manager of a leading resort on the outskirts of the reserve said tigers occasionally enter human settlements, but forest guards work to keep people safe. “The fact is that we have come into their territory; they have not come into ours,” he said.
Negi, who was invited to speak at the country’s first literature festival held inside a national park earlier this month, said Ramnath’s presence of mind during the attack stood out.
The attack took place about 300 to 400 metres from a forest outpost located nearly 18 kilometres inside the forest.
“There was no time to call for help or assess the situation. Ramnath acted with the only weapon immediately available to him — the stick in his hand,” Negi told PTI.
Ramnath’s decision to strike the tiger may have been crucial to the rescue. Had he screamed or shouted, the tiger could have turned towards him.
After Pitambar was rescued, the tiger continued to roar and move around the area and appeared agitated. More staff were deployed to secure the area, bushes along the route were cleared and camera traps were installed to track the animal’s movements. Officials were concerned because the tiger had apparently tasted human blood.
The tiger remained in the area for three to four days, but no further incident was reported. The authorities eventually concluded that it had not become a man-eater.
For forest staff, the incident was another reminder of the dangers of entering the habitat of wild animals on foot, often far from immediate medical help.
“The nearest hospital in Ramnagar is around 18 kilometres away, while patients requiring further treatment are often referred to Kashipur or Haldwani,” Negi said.
An injured worker can take time to reach medical care. Pitambar first had to be carried on foot to the outpost, where a vehicle was arranged to take him for treatment. Despite staff rushing to help, the process took about 30 to 40 minutes.
Corbett has hundreds of employees in different roles, including forest guards, foresters, rangers and daily-wage workers. Their duties include monitoring wildlife, preventing poaching, detecting unauthorised entry, tracking animal movements and responding to forest fires.
“The main objective of patrolling is to prevent poaching,” Negi said, adding that even fresh footprints in soft forest soil could alert workers to an intruder.
The risks are not limited to tigers. Forest staff also encounter venomous snakes and rapidly spreading fires.
“After spending eight hours working in the forest, we get exhausted and lie down wherever we can. We cannot always be alert every moment. In many ways, we rely on God’s protection,” Negi said.
Pitambar’s survival, made possible by Ramnath’s quick response and timely treatment, reflects the daily dangers faced by forest personnel as they protect wildlife, prevent illegal activity and keep visitors and nearby residents safe.
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