Tragedy has once again struck Ranthambore Tiger Reserve, as the park mourns the third fatal tiger attack in just two months. On June 10, a revered temple caretaker, Radheshyam Saini, was killed in a brutal encounter with a tiger inside Ranthambore Fort, triggering protests, heightened tensions, and a temporary gate closure.
This incident has reignited the debate over the safety of pilgrims, forest staff, and tourists visiting the core zones of Ranthambore National Park, particularly Zone 1, where the iconic fort sits amidst active tiger territory.
🕯️ Victim Identified as Temple Caretaker
Radheshyam Saini, a 60-year-old priest who had served at the Jain temple inside Ranthambore Fort for more than two decades, was reportedly attacked early in the morning. According to initial reports, Saini had stepped out—likely for routine morning activities—when he was ambushed and dragged away by a tiger roaming near the temple complex.
Following alerts raised by his family, a swift search and rescue operation was launched by the Forest Department, resulting in the recovery of his body.
🔥 Public Outcry and Road Blockade
The fatal attack sparked immediate public unrest. Family members, local villagers, and temple devotees assembled outside the fort’s entrance in protest, blaming forest officials for lax patrolling and inadequate safety measures. The demonstration escalated into a road blockade on the Sawai Madhopur-Kundera route, demanding justice for the deceased and better human-wildlife conflict management.
📉 Third Death in Two Months Raises Alarms
This is not an isolated incident. It marks the third tiger-related fatality in Ranthambore in a short span:
April 16: A 7-year-old boy was mauled to death near the Trinetra Ganesh Temple, also inside the fort premises.
May 11: A forest ranger, Devendra Chaudhary, lost his life while patrolling the core zone.
May 14: A tigress suspected to be involved in these incidents was tranquilized and relocated, but tiger movement in the area remains high.
According to forest officials, approximately 15 tigers regularly traverse this zone, creating heightened risk for both pilgrims and staff.
🧭 Why Ranthambore Fort is a High-Risk Zone
The Ranthambore Fort, a UNESCO heritage site and sacred pilgrimage destination, is located deep within Zone 1 of the park—a known tiger territory. Thousands of visitors trek through this area every month to visit historic temples. While it adds cultural value to the park, this overlap between religious activity and wildlife habitat creates serious safety challenges.
Wildlife experts have long warned against unrestricted human presence in tiger-dominated regions, especially during early morning or late evening hours when big cat activity is highest.
⚠️ Authorities Respond: Gate Closure and Investigations
In response to the latest incident:
Park authorities temporarily shut access to Ranthambore Fort for safety assessments.
Investigations have been initiated to determine if lapses in security protocols contributed to the attack.
Discussions are underway to strengthen safety guidelines, introduce restricted access zones, and increase patrolling efforts, particularly in areas with heavy tiger traffic.
You can stay updated with park notices and guidelines at the official Ranthambore website.
🌳 Conservation vs. Coexistence
Ranthambore National Park is internationally renowned for its tiger conservation success story. With a rising number of big cats, territorial expansions are inevitable—leading to more frequent human-wildlife interactions.
Balancing religious freedom, tourism, and wildlife conservation has never been more complex. As conservationists call for stricter zoning and controlled human movement, local communities urge better safety infrastructure and proactive forest department responses.
Visitors are encouraged to use authorized safari bookings only, such as:
✅ Online Tiger Safari Booking
✅ Book Gypsy Safaris in Ranthambore
✅ Contact the Ranthambore Team
These official services ensure regulated access with trained guides and safety protocols in place.
