Fatal tiger attack: A case report with emphasis on typical tiger injuries characterized by partially resembling stab-like wounds

• Published in: Forensic science international Vol. 232; no. 1; pp. e1 - e4
• Main Authors: Pathak, Hrishikesh, Borkar, Jaydeo, Dixit, Pradeep, Dhawane, Shailendra, Shrigiriwar, Manish, Dingre, Niraj
• Format: Journal Article
• Language: English
• Published: Ireland Elsevier Ireland Ltd 10.10.2013; Elsevier Limited
• Subjects: Abrasion; Abrasion resistance; Adult; Animal attack; Animal bites; Animals; Bite injury; Bites and Stings - pathology; Carotid Artery Injuries - pathology; Cervical Vertebrae - injuries; Cervical Vertebrae - pathology; Clavicle - injuries; Clavicle - pathology; Conflicts of interest; Deoxyribonucleic acid; DNA; Fatal; Fatal tiger mauling; Female; Forensic autopsy; Forensic Pathology; Forensic science; Forensic sciences; Fractures; Fractures, Bone - pathology; Hemorrhage - pathology; Hoof and Claw; Human; Humans; India; Injuries; Joint Dislocations - pathology; Jugular Veins - injuries; Jugular Veins - pathology; Lacerations - pathology; Medical imaging; Murders & murder attempts; Muscle, Skeletal - injuries; Muscle, Skeletal - pathology; Neck Injuries - pathology; Panthera tigris tigris; Pathology; Skin; Soft Tissue Injuries - pathology; Spine; Sternoclavicular Joint - injuries; Sternoclavicular Joint - pathology; Tigers; Transfixing injury; Trauma; Wounds, Stab - pathology; India; Forensic autopsy; Transfixing injury; Animal attack; Fatal tiger mauling; Bite injury; Panthera tigris tigris
• ISSN: 0379-0738; 1872-6283
• DOI: 10.1016/j.forsciint.2013.08.003

Abstract Fatalities due to attacks by tigers on humans are uncommon and are rarely described in the medico-legal literature. We herein present a forensic investigation in a unique case of a fatal tiger attack in the wild on a 35 year old female in India by an Indian Bengal tiger ( Panthera tigris tigris ). The attack resulted in two pairs of puncture wounds over the nape area with occult cervical spine injuries resulting from transfixing of spine due to the tiger canines; multiple puncture wounds, numerous scratches and abrasions consistent with the tiger claw injuries and injury to the right jugulocarotid vessels. This case outlines the characteristic injury pattern from such an attack along with the multiple sources of the tiger injuries. The analysis of these injuries might reveal the motivation behind the attack and the big cat species involved in the attack. A tiger injury is sometimes compared with a stab injury, as the patterned injuries due to a tiger bite are characterized by multiple penetrating, stab-like wounds. So, a special attention is paid toward establishment of the cause of death from bites by the animal teeth under unknown circumstances of trauma and to exclude the possibility of a homicide beyond reasonable doubt in such cases.