The Montgomery advertiser., 1905-11-10
TIGERS TERROR OF INDIA
WILD BEASTS SHAY 2S,000 PERSONS
 WITHIN A SINGLE YEAR.
Panfhers and Leopards Do Their Share fin killing Cattle and Men--Saye the Crops, However by Driv-
 ing OR Deer, and Monkeys.

Year by year records are published of the destruction of human and cat tie life by the wild beasts and snakes of British India. Last year 24,576 hu- man beings and 96,226 cattle were killed and of the people 21,s27 deaths were attributed to snakes, while of the cattle s6,00e were killed by wild beasts partners being charged with 40,O00 and tigers with 30,O00 of this total; snakes accounted for 16,000.
 And this is but a trifiing percentage of the actual animal mortality, as if excludes the feudatory states, with their 10000 suqare miles and 60,000, ,00o inhabitants were no records are ob- tainable. Nor do the fatalities grow materially less, notwithstanding the efforts or sportsmen and rewards by the government because the develop ment of railways and roads. as tho jungle is reclaimed for agriculture. means continuous invasion of the snake and tiger-infested territority.
 Last year. i,2S5 tigers, 4,370 partners and leopards, 2,000 bears and 2,08e wolves were killed; of snakes--the real scourge of India-no record is poa- sibIe, and unfortunately. comparative 1y few are destroyed. However depior- able and costly is the taking of human and cattle life. the descent upon prom ising crops by deer and pigs and mon- keys would be even more serious to India and more expensive to the natives were 1t not for the tiger, panther and leopard.
 Tiger is Oyerestimated.
 This formidable trio of the cat fam fly practically policies agricultural In- dia where it pushes into the jungle and makes it possible for the poor native to exist through cultivation of his fields. So after all 1t is a question whether, speaking broadly. tigers are not more beneficial than harmful Un- doubtedly the depredations of the tiger are oyerestimated because is is so feared that wherever it prowls invar- fable panic spreads widely to it's dis credit. On India's last years death list 2,649 were credited to wild beasts and while all of these are laid up against the tiger. partners and wolves especially partners, should be charged with very considerable share. The fact Is that the panther and leopard which. except as to size are about alike in spotted pelt and temper. are much underestinated as the tiger is overesti- mated
 The smaller leopard devotes itself more largely to goats and pigs and monkeys, while the panther attacks deer. gaur, cattle and man. for the pam ther also on occasions. becomes a man eater and when it does 1t is a fury in- S<ttiAUtS.
 Panthers are bolder in attack mode ac- tive and more generally vicious than tigers; yet they inspire nothing like such awe among the natives. Indeed. l have seen natives rally to the de- fense of a dog, of which ieopards are particularly fond. when. had the intru- der been tiger. they would have been paralyzed into inaction by very fear. The "maneater" is the jungle night mare of India, and numerous are the theories to account for it's abnormal ap- petite. Commonly it is said to be an old lger which has found game too dim cut to briag down, or a sickly tiger which has resorted to man killing in It's weakness as the easier method. The consensus of opinion among experi- enced hunters is, however. that man eaLer IS an ex-cattle killer which In connict with herders, who are often qulte brave in defense of their cattle.
 mas discovered how much less work IT
 ls to Kill q man than cattle. Nothing mas been found so far as I have dls- covered to suggest appetite for human nesh as the impelling motive, or that