India Insights: Mob Justice in the Wild - What The Killing Of A Tiger Reveals About India’s Conservation Crisis
Shashank Hudkar
A tragic event unfolded on the 24th of May in Dusutimukh village in Assam’s Golaghat district. A mob of over 1,000 villagers surrounded and brutally killed a Royal Bengal tiger using sticks, machetes, and spears. The tiger had reportedly attacked livestock and was suspected of fatally mauling a man from the area, sparking widespread fear and anger. According to a post-mortem examination, the tiger died due to multiple sharp weapon injuries. Parts of its body, including its skin and teeth, were removed, raising suspicions of illegal wildlife trade.
Speaking to the police, Golaghat DFO Gunadip Das said, "It is difficult to identify all those who killed the tiger.” So far, three arrests have been made concerning the horrendous incident, and investigations are still ongoing.
The Royal Bengal tiger is a Schedule I species under India's Wildlife Protection Act, 1972, and one of the most critically protected animals in the country. Yet this incident, a grisly, public, and deliberate one, highlights a worsening crisis. As human populations expand and natural habitats shrink, human-wildlife conflict in India is becoming more frequent, more violent, and more tragic for both people and endangered animals.
A Detailed Account Of The Event
Panic gripped the tiny village in Assam when a Royal Bengal Tiger entered the residential area from the nearby forest between 8 – 9 am on the 22nd of May. According to local accounts, the tiger had previously attacked livestock in the region and was believed to be responsible for the recent death of a man, intensifying local fears. Armed with machetes, bamboo spears, and wooden sticks, a crowd of over 1,000 villagers quickly mobilised to confront the animal.
Hence, the villagers thought that the beast could only be subdued by brute force. The mob gathered and surrounded the tiger, trapped it, and eventually beat it to death in a violent frenzy. Many villagers involved in the incident have since fled the village to avoid arrests. Authorities continue to identify participants, as the incident has sparked widespread condemnation and renewed debate on conservation failures.
Human-Wildlife Conflict: A Growing Concern
The killing of the tiger in Assam is not an isolated event, but part of a disturbing national trend. As of May 2025, India has recorded 75 tiger deaths—one of the highest mid-year tallies in recent memory. Maharashtra has emerged as a hotspot, accounting for nearly 30% of these deaths. Within the state, Chandrapur district has become a flashpoint, where at least 24 human fatalities have been linked to tiger attacks this year alone. Two of these deaths were reported just days before the Assam incident, underscoring the urgency of the crisis.
However, the Indian national animal is not the only species at risk in India. Experts attribute the rise in human-wildlife conflict to multiple interlinked factors. Rapid deforestation, land-use change, and infrastructure development have fragmented the wildlife habitats across India, forcing the animals to stray into human settlements. In rural areas, where buffer zones are poorly maintained or non-existent, encounters between people and big cats are becoming increasingly common and deadly. Additionally, the poaching of prey species such as deer and wild boar leaves tigers with limited food sources, compelling them to target livestock instead.
The conflict is especially intense in regions where impoverished communities live near forested areas. In such settings, a single livestock loss or fatal encounter can spark anger and retaliation. Conservationists warn that without stronger mitigation efforts, these situations will continue to spiral into violence, endangering both people and critically endangered species like the Royal Bengal tiger.
Legal Framework And Conservation Efforts
Since its independence from the British, India has recognised the importance of conserving several endangered species and wildlife like the Royal Bengal Tiger. The Wildlife Protection Act, 1972 serves as the cornerstone of wildlife conservation in the country. Offences against animals under this category, including hunting, poaching, and even causing harm are punishable by substantial fines and imprisonment, with stricter penalties for repeat offenders.
Building on this foundation, the Indian government launched Project Tiger in 1973, a flagship conservation initiative aimed at preserving the species and its natural habitat. As of March 2025, there are 58 designated tiger reserves across the country, covering key ecological corridors where tigers are known to thrive.
The project is administered by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), established in 2005. The NTCA is responsible for the oversight of tiger reserve management, enforcing protection protocols, and ensuring coordination between state and central governments. It also plays a crucial role in habitat monitoring, fund allocation, and conflict mitigation strategies.
Despite these comprehensive frameworks, incidents like the one in Assam raise serious concerns about the implementation and community integration of these measures, particularly in rural areas where fear and livelihood losses can override legal boundaries.
Mitigation Strategies And The Path Forward
Addressing the escalating human-tiger conflict in India requires more than legal frameworks, it demands meaningful engagement with the communities most affected. One of the most effective strategies is community-based conservation, where locals are educated about tiger behavior and actively involved in wildlife protection. Participatory approaches foster a sense of ownership and trust, transforming potential adversaries into conservation allies.
Improving livestock management is also crucial. In vulnerable areas, simple interventions such as reinforced night-time enclosures, community grazing grounds, and rotational herding practices can significantly reduce tiger predation on domestic animals, one of the most common triggers of violent retaliation.
Another long-term solution lies in restoring and maintaining habitat connectivity. The creation of wildlife corridors enables tigers to safely move between forest patches without straying into human settlements. These corridors are vital for genetic diversity, migration, and reducing conflict.
Finally, rapid response teams comprising wildlife biologists, sociologists, and veterinarians can play a vital role in de-escalating conflicts. These teams are trained to tranquilize and relocate straying tigers, conduct community outreach, and coordinate with forest departments to manage emergencies effectively.
Together, these strategies offer a roadmap toward coexistence, where both people and tigers can thrive without fear.
