Tiger killed near depleted forest

KHULNA, Dec 18 (BDPREM) - A female tiger in Bangladesh wandered out of a mangrove forest on Tuesday and was surrounded by villagers and killed, officials said. Four people were injured in the confrontation with the Royal Bengal tiger, an endangered species. Villagers attacked it with weapons as a woman shouted for help in panic when she spotted the animal stalking near her home, officials said. "The tigress might have strayed into the village in search of food," said Sundarbans mangrove forest official Amalendra Shaha. The forest was depleted of food by Cyclone Sidr, which struck the Bangladesh coast on Nov 15 with winds of 250 kph (155 mph) and killed about 3,500 people and made millions homeless. The Sundarbans is a UNESCO World Heritage site and home to the Royal Bengal tiger. At least 60 percent of the 6,000 sq km (2,320 sq mile) mangrove swamps that lies within Bangladesh, home for more than 400 Royal Bengal tigers, was devastated by the cyclone.