Tiger cub attack kills forest guard in Thailand's Huay Ka Khang reserve

A forest guard was fatally attacked by a tiger cub while sleeping on the floor of an open‑air building at the Huay Ka Khang wildlife sanctuary in Thailand. The Department of National Parks, Wildlife and Plant Conservation (DNP) examined camera footage and other evidence and concluded that the incident was not the work of a man‑eating tiger. The animal was identified as a 1‑year‑6‑month‑old cub, offspring of a known mother tiger named Apinya, and the attack is believed to have been a mistaken predatory response while the cub was still learning to hunt.

DNP officials emphasized that the behavior is atypical, noting that the cub did not display repeated aggression toward humans. They announced additional safety measures, including prohibiting solo patrols, improving guard shelters, and temporarily closing tourism and research activities in the reserve. The sanctuary remains home to roughly 100 adult tigers and about 30 cubs, and the agency will continue close monitoring with extra camera traps.

The incident underscores the challenges of managing human‑wildlife interactions in protected areas and the need for enhanced protocols to protect staff.