A36-year-old man, who went to catch crabs and fish in the Sunderbans area on Saturday morning, died after a tiger attacked him when he was chopping firewood in the forest, an official said.
Goshto Naiya had set out on a small boat with three other men from the Deulbari area near Kultali in the South 24-Parganas forest range on Saturday morning, the official said. He was attacked by the tiger from behind in the Chituri forest where he had gone to cut firewood, the official said.
Tigers are being frequently spotted in areas that are not considered to be hot spots because of the lockdown and the ban on fishing and forest activities, several foresters said.
According to a section of foresters as well as those who work for the welfare of those living in Sunderbans, the lockdown and Cyclone Amphan, which has left most fields and fish ponds inundated with saline water, has resulted in a loss of livelihood for many and even inexperienced groups are venturing out in the forests, an official said.