In a tragic case of human-wildlife conflict, a shepherd was killed in a suspected tiger attack in the Deolapar forest range under the Nagpur Territorial Division. The victim, identified as Balkaram Krushnaji Dhoble, a resident of Lodha village, was found dead inside Compartment No. 475 of the Lodha Reserved Forest (RF) on Monday.
According to forest officials, Dhoble had gone into the forest on June 30, 2025, to graze his cattle but did not return by 5 PM. When his absence was noticed, a search operation was launched by forest personnel and local villagers, covering nearby forest patches. Despite continuous patrolling till midnight, he remained untraceable, and the search had to be paused due to poor visibility and wild terrain.
The operation resumed early the next day, at 5 AM on July 1, and by 12:30 PM, search teams discovered Dhoble’s mutilated body in the same forest compartment. Fresh tiger pugmarks were found around the site, confirming the likelihood of a tiger attack. Forest officials have since installed trap cameras in the area to monitor tiger movement and ensure public safety.
The body was sent to Deolapar Rural Hospital for postmortem. Following the medical examination, the remains were handed over to the family for the final rites.
In accordance with wildlife conflict compensation norms, a ₹10 lakh cheque was presented to the deceased’s next of kin by Dr. Vinita Vyas (IFS), Deputy Conservator of Forests, Nagpur (Territorial Division). The compensation was handed over in the presence of local leaders including former Panchayat Samiti President Chandrakant Kodwate, former Zilla Parishad Member Shantatai Kumre, and Wadamba Gram Panchayat Sarpanch Mukesh Dubey.
Deputy Conservator Dr. Vyas has issued directives for intensified patrolling and tiger tracking efforts in the Deolapar forest area to prevent further incidents and ensure safety of forest-dependent communities.
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