Chitwan, December 22
The Chitwan National Park administration has claimed that Jib Bahadur Thing, a 63-year-old man from Lakshmitandi, Binaytribeni Rural Municipality-1, Nawalparasi East, was killed by a tiger while attempting to hunt it, rather than while cutting grass as initially reported.
Thing died on October 19 after being attacked by a tiger in the Trichuli Buffer Zone Community Forest. During a press conference held on Sunday in Kasara, park officials alleged that he was killed by a tiger that escaped from a trap he had set to capture or kill it.
Amrit Neupane, 20, a local resident accused of involvement in setting the trap, has been detained, revealing new details about the incident, according to the park administration.
Details of the incident
Authorities stated that prior to the incident, a goat was killed by a tiger in the area, prompting Thing to set a trap in the forest. Evidence, including vehicle brake wires and cables used as snares, was recovered near the site. DNA tests conducted on hair found at the scene confirmed it belonged to a Bengal tiger, said Chief Conservation Officer Dr Ganesh Pant.
Neupane reportedly confessed during interrogation that he and Thing had set the trap. He admitted to climbing a tree to take photographs of the trapped tiger and escaping to save his life when the tiger attacked Thing after freeing itself from the trap.
Evidence and legal proceedings
Photographs of the trapped tiger were recovered from Nyaupane’s mobile phone during a digital forensic investigation. Based on this evidence, a case has been filed against him in the District Court of Nawalparasi East under the Wildlife Conservation Act. The act prescribes penalties ranging from Rs 500,000 to Rs 1 million in fines and/or imprisonment of 5 to 15 years.
Dr Pant stated that Thing had a history of involvement in wildlife poaching and may have been attempting to sell tiger parts for profit. While Thing’s family has demanded Rs 1 million in compensation, the tiger involved in the incident remains alive and has not been deemed a man-eater, as it did not consume Thing’s body.
“The tiger, likely an adult, maintained its territorial behavior and has shown no further signs of aggression toward humans,” Dr Pant explained.
Investigators suspect that Thing acted independently in setting the trap, although Neupane’s involvement as an accomplice is under scrutiny. Further investigations are ongoing.
