Tension gripped Ranthambore Tiger Reserve in Rajasthan’s Sawai Madhopur district following the tragic death of an elderly caretaker in a tiger attack – the 3rd such fatal incident in just two months. The victim, Radheshyam Saini, a 60-year-old priest and long-time resident of the historic Jain temple inside Ranthambore Fort, was reportedly attacked and dragged away by a tiger in the early hours of the morning. Forest officials launched a swift search operation inside the 10th-century Ranthambore Fort, which lies within the core zone of the tiger reserve. Saini’s family raised the alarm after discovering he was missing, and several teams from the forest department were immediately dispatched. His body was later located and recovered.
According to SP Mamta Gupta, “The body has been retrieved and handed over to the family. Investigations are underway.” Initial reports suggest that Saini had stepped out early in the morning, possibly to relieve himself, when the tiger attacked him near the temple premises.
Soon after the news broke, villagers and relatives of the deceased gathered at the fort’s entrance in protest. They shouted slogans, accused the forest department of negligence, and demanded immediate action. The protest quickly escalated, with locals also blocking the Sawai Madhopur-Kundera road to voice their anger and grief. This fatal incident is the 3rd tiger-related death reported in the reserve in the past two months. On April 16, a seven-year-old boy was mauled to death near the Trinetra Ganesh Temple inside the fort, and on May 11, forest ranger Devendra Chaudhary lost his life in a tiger attack. In response to the earlier incidents, a tigress believed to be involved in both cases was tranquilised and relocated on May 14. However, forest officials have confirmed that about 15 tigers regularly move through the zone, raising serious concerns about visitor and resident safety in the area.
Radheshyam Saini had been living inside the Jain temple for over 20 years, offering his services to the shrine and its visiting pilgrims. His grandson told the media, “He dedicated his life to the temple. We just heard that several forest teams are searching. It’s painful that despite warnings, the area still remains vulnerable.” The Ranthambore Fort, known for its architectural splendor and religious significance, draws thousands of pilgrims and tourists each year. Located inside the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, the fort sits amidst dense tiger territory – making safety management crucial. Following the previous attacks in April and May, authorities had temporarily closed temple access to visitors, but the recent tragedy raises questions about the effectiveness and enforcement of safety measures.
Ranthambore National Park is one of India’s most renowned tiger reserves, known for its high tiger density and rich biodiversity. The national park is divided into multiple tourism zones, each with designated tiger territories. However, Ranthambore Fort lies in Zone 1, a core area known for frequent tiger movement, making it both a religious site and a high-risk zone for human-wildlife interaction. Experts and conservationists have long cautioned about the challenges of managing religious and tourism activities within critical wildlife habitats. With rising tiger populations and expanding territorial needs, encounters between humans and big cats are becoming increasingly common. Authorities are now facing mounting pressure to implement stricter access controls, bolster patrolling in sensitive areas, and ensure safety protocols are rigorously followed.
As the tiger reserve continues to draw global attention for its wildlife conservation success, the recent incidents of tiger attacks is a grim reminder of the fragile balance between humans and nature. Villagers, meanwhile, demand justice for the victims and stronger protective measures to prevent future tragedies.
