Crouching tiger, scared elephant: Chilling video from Bandhavgarh reserve; mahout dodges death

BHOPAL: A tiger attack on an elephant squad during a rescue operation in the Bandhavgarh Tiger Reserve’s Manpur buffer zone left a mahout injured recently. The incident occurred near the village of Balhond’s Muhabola area, close to the forest boundary.The incident was also caught on camera, capturing the tense moments of tiger attack. The mahout can be heard laughing just moments before the tiger’s fierce attack. Earlier, the tiger had killed livestock in the village, and subsequent movements of the animal were reported near the same location. In response to villagers’ complaints, a team from the Tiger Reserve, accompanied by an elephant squad, arrived to safely guide the tiger back into the forest. However, during the rescue attempt, the tiger launched a fierce attack on the elephant squad. The tiger’s roar and aggressive behavior caused the departmental elephants to become unsettled and retreat in panic. Amid the chaos, the mahout narrowly escaped serious harm but suffered minor injuries. He received medical treatment at the Manpur Community Health Center.