JA: Request for Tiger Shaptah Week Special

Tigers are one of the few species that still regularly predate on humans. Most of us do not live in an area that is likely to make us a tiger snack, but of you are here are a few tips. Bengal tigers of the Sundarbans region alone kill over fifty people a year. Tiger also earn the enmity of some people by killing livestock..

Step 1) Avoid the Tiger

Even tigers that hunt humans don't come into town to do it. So as long as you stay in town you are quite safe. It is also a bad idea to approach an animal a tiger as killed as it will likely remain in that area.

Step 2) Confuse the Tiger

Apparently tigers like to stalk people and attack them from behind. This is why, if you are walking in tiger country you don't want to be alone, or be the person at the very back of the group.

But if you cannot find some slower moving friend to trail along behind you, the Indian Government has another suggestion--wear a mask on theback of your head. This means the tiger cannot attack you from behind and will, presumably, move on to an easier and less befuddling target. Since these masks were issued in 1986, for a while no one wearing a mask was been attacked by a tiger. However in some areas the tigers seem to have seen through this little ruse, so it plans to have a back up plan.

Step 3) Stay Upright and Alert

Tigers are more likely to attack a person who is crouched over such as a hunter or someone harvesting a crop. If you stay upright they will often not make the attempt. Also, tigers leap from ambush, so if you stay alert, see them, and look right at them, it will often stop the attack. Whatever you do, don't turn your back! Don't assume you are safe because you are in a vehicle. Tigers have been known to attack people on boats and even mounted on elephants.

Step 4) Use a Weapon

Once a tiger commits to an attack it is very difficult to repel. There is no point trying to strangle a tiger as the a designed for diving underwater and can quite a while without a good breath. Your best bet is to use any implement you have to hand to beat or stab the tiger until it gets the idea you are going to be far too much trouble. In extremis surprising weapons have proved successful against a tiger, for example: a soup ladle. Although it may have helped that the man being attacked was helped in this case by his wife. Tigers prefer to attack people who are alone and can be easily put off by timely and persitent assistance.

Step 5) If You Can't be Safe...

If, perchance, you do get killed by a tiger don't be poaching in a nature reserve at the time. because then you family will not be compensated for the loss.

Photo credit: archer10 (Dennis) / Foter.com / CC BY-SA