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The Sundarban Tiger
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Oh yes, its a major problem there. The fisherman were wearing masks on the back of their head because the tigers would ambush them, and this worked for some time until it didn't.
The tigers are also known to take them directly from the boat as well. Some people say the brackish water and sediment that the tigers drink from cause an unusual aggression towards humans. Since they have no real fresh water ponds to drink from, the tides rise and lower so they may have different bacteria in them. A couple other reasons that could be a cause to the amount of attacks on humans "Tiger attacks in the Sundarbans, in India and Bangladesh are estimated to kill from 0-50 (mean of 22.7 between 1947 and 1983) people per year.[1] The Sundarbans is home to over 100 [2] Bengal tigers,[3] one of the largest single populations of tigers in one area. Before modern times, Sundarbans were said to "regularly kill fifty or sixty people a year".[4]" "Although attacks were stalled temporarily in 2004 with new precautions, recently attacks have been on the rise. This is particularly due to the devastation on the Bangladeshi side of the swamp caused by Cyclone Sidr which has deprived tigers of traditional food sources (due to the natural upheaval) and has pushed them over towards the more populated Indian side of the swamp.[5]" Precautions "The locals and government officials take certain precautions to prevent attacks. Local fishermen will say prayers and perform rituals to the forest goddess, Bonbibi, before setting out on expeditions. Invocations to the tiger god Dakshin Rai are also considered a necessity by the local populace for safe passage throughout the Sundarbans area. Fishermen and bushmen originally created masks made to look like faces to wear on the back of their heads because tigers always attack from behind. This worked for a short time, but the tigers quickly realized it was a hoax, and the attacks continued.[citation needed] Government officials wear stiff pads that rise up the back of the neck, similar to the pads of an American football player. This is to prevent the tigers from biting into the spine, which is their favored attack method.[6]" |
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