MP zoo’s tigers know what you taste like

They have quirky names, adorableeven. Some like to slink into darkcorners, others prance about in the sun.

- Sudeept.Mishra

At first glance, there isn’t anything to separate these tigers from the other big cats at Bhopal’s Van Vihar National Park. But watch their eyes. They follow every human within a leap or swipe. They stalk keepers who come to clean the enclosures, top up the water or lay out the meat. That’s because their fangs have tasted human flesh.

Van Vihar has perhaps the largest concentration of man-eaters per square kilometre. Sundari, its latest addition, killed and ate two villagers in Odisha where it was translocated from MP in 2018. There are eight such tigers that will spend the rest of their lives in captivity for killing humans. Seven don’t have a confirmed kill but take an ‘unhealthy interest’ in humans.

All of VanVihar’s man-eaters have strong ‘personalities’. Zookeepers say Bandhan and Bandhani are quick to make friends with anyone, even humans. Bandhu is nicknamed ‘Royal’ for its arrogant walk and the way it turns up its nose at humans.