Newmai News Network Senapati | October 10 Prowling tigers are triggering fear among the villagers of Sangkhumei village in Senapati district, Manipur, as the wild animals attack cattle and other domestic animals. The villagers also fear that the wild animals may attack villagers. Sangkhumei village is located some 60 km north-west of Senapati headquarters. The village falls under Wilong sub division. Elders of the village informed that at least four to five tigers are believed to be in the village vicinity for sometimes now. Some villagers have seen the tigers, according the village elders. They said that the tigers have been attacking buffaloes, cows and goats. The villagers said that these tigers have even come as close as the backyard of a house recently along Maram-Peren road near Sangkhumei village to hunt goats. Some villagers have seen the tigers. Recent cases of increasing cases of killing of buffaloes, cows and goats have alarmed the villagers. According to a villager whose goats have fallen prey to the tigers, big cats injured as many as six goats on October 7 alone Maram-Peren road. Roaring sounds of the tigers are reportedly heard even by villagers at night. A village elder informed that the number of tigers has increased from just two to four or five since the past 3 years. Now that it has become a threat to human existence, hunters are reportedly on the move to kill the tigers. Meanwhile, the villagers have earnestly appealed the State Government and the Forest department to consider the report "seriously and urgently" and deal the matter at the earliest.
