In India, several states worship the tiger as a deity. Foreigners, too, are fascinated with the idea of India being the country of Royal Bengal Tigers, elephants, and snake-charmers. Though it is not true, still its a faithful representation of the spectacular wildlife our jungles boast of. Aren’t they simply awesome because of their majestic movement and gait? The Royal Bengal Tigers are not just beautiful but also intelligent, alert and have a killer instinct. We all must have read in Corbett’s book about tigers being patient hunters overall, and not injuring humans unless provoked or wounded.
A tiger will never attack or injure any humans until provoked, wounded heavily on some important body parts or When the gentlest of tigers become careful, ferocious man-hunters, they are often searching forests for solitary wanderers for long.
Tiger- humans conflict
Even then, most man-eaters do not want to corner and attack a human – most attacks are on the unlucky villager who strays. Tigers may also kill people if they enter a place that holds her young ones. Mother tigers are known to be extremely protective of her cubs and prefer to attack whoever it is.
Wounded and disabled tigers normally pounce on their human prey from the back, to catch them unawares and kill them. Many villagers had taken to wearing face-masks at the back of their heads to fend off tiger attacks and the method had succeeded for a short while. As mentioned, the tiger is an alert, intelligent animal, quick to identify traps and evade them.
Humans have also seen peaceful tigers who without any harm leaves humans to their fate. Still, something is charming about the cleverness, agility, and concentration of the tiger closing in on his prey. In Southern Indian tiger-worshipping temples are still in awe of the fear that a tiger can create in the minds of humans, however much of this is due to lack of knowledge. Nothing else would induce a visitor to go unaccompanied into a wildlife-rich forest. A tiger-human confrontation is an extreme situation, and can mostly because of some negligence on the part of the human.
In short, a Royal Bengal tiger is a majestic animal of prey living in magnificent forests and will leave you alone if you have the sense to leave it alone. Why wouldn’t everyone want to see the beauty?
Sharad Vats brings over three decades of rich safari experience across the Indian wilderness, leading a passionate team dedicated to delivering seamless and memorable wildlife journeys. With deep knowledge of jungle logistics—ranging from flora and fauna to experienced guides and skilled jeep drivers—he ensures that every safari is thoughtfully curated and effortlessly executed, offering guests an immersive and almost ethereal experience in the wild.
Over the years, Sharad has also spent extensive time assisting guests, curating personalized tours, and leading wildlife expeditions, combining operational excellence with a deep understanding of guest expectations.
Beyond tourism, he is an active contributor to the wildlife ecosystem. His initiatives include planting and maintaining thousands of trees, creating safe passages and corridors for tigers, and establishing solar-powered waterholes across Kanha and other national parks. He is equally committed to community development, supporting and adopting schools in nearby villages, reflecting a holistic approach to conservation and sustainable tourism.
