Young Tiger Identified in Park Official's Death
Researchers identified a young tiger cub, about 1 year 6 months old and offspring of mother tiger Aphinyaa, as responsible for attacking ranger Sakkrin Wichajarn at Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary. The incident is believed accidental, wi
The tiger research team at Khao Nang Ram Wildlife Research Station has successfully identified the tiger that attacked a ranger at Huay Kha Khaeng Wildlife Sanctuary as a 1-year-6-month-old cub, offspring of mother tiger Aphinyaa.
On August 6, 2025, at 5:30 p.m., Dr. Aatchara Simcharoen, academic affairs director, and Somphoch Duangchantarasiri, Khao Nang Ram Wildlife Research Station director, confirmed the tiger's identity through camera trap footage from the area where ranger Sakkrin Wichajarn was found. Tigers typically return to their kill site after hunting, and based on the research team's database, the area is home to adult female tiger Aphinyaa, age 8, and her three cubs from a second litter, approximately 1 year 6 months old. The family regularly uses this route.
Camera trap analysis identified one of Aphinyaa's three cubs as the tiger involved. On the day of the incident, this cub entered the shelter area where the ranger was resting in a horizontal position. The tiger likely mistook the ranger for prey because his posture resembled the typical long profile of normal prey. At 1 year 6 months old, the cub is in the natural learning phase for hunting, and this incident is considered accidental. Normally, tigers avoid structures and would flee immediately if they detected human movement.
Research recommendations include: 1. Emphasizing ranger vigilance and avoiding situations that expose them to tiger attacks 2. Improving the environment with better lighting and more open landscaping to increase visibility 3. Adjusting ranger behavior—avoiding exposed outdoor areas during rest periods
Criteria for classifying a tiger as man-eater: 1. Repeated, consistent incidents 2. Deliberate selection of humans as primary prey
Action steps include: (1) Installing 15 camera traps across a 40-square-kilometer area around Huay Kha Khaeng over two days to study whether the tiger family can survive on natural prey; (2) Fitting satellite collars on all three cubs for continuous behavioral monitoring; (3) If attacks recur within a short timeframe, capturing and relocating the cub for behavioral rehabilitation; (4) Ongoing camera trap monitoring going forward.
Chayaporn Amradisit, director of the Protected Area Administration Region 12, confirmed that evidence identified a 1-year-6-month-old male tiger cub—one of Aphinyaa's three offspring—as responsible for the attack on ranger Sakkrin Wichajarn, who died on August 5. Camera trap evidence shows the cub returned to the location where the ranger's body was taken.
