A brief retelling of Kenneth Anderson’s account in Nine Man-Eaters and One Rogue.

A valley learns to fear

In 1937, a tiger entered Chamala Valley and turned familiar forest paths into places of dread. According to Anderson, its first victim was a bamboo-cutter near Gundalpenta. A traveller was killed soon afterwards. Over roughly six months, seven people fell victim across the valleys.

The killing of a forest guard brought official attention and a reward. Anderson came to Nagapatla, studied the attacks, and put out buffalo baits. Finding a tiger was only part of the problem. He also had to identify the right one.

The wrong tiger

A vigil beside a kill ended with Anderson shooting a tiger. Yet doubt remained. Had he stopped the man-eater, or killed another animal that happened to occupy the same forest?

News of another human victim answered that question. The danger had survived.

The trail continues

Anderson returned and followed the killer’s trail through a dry stream bed. This time, the pursuit ended with the man-eater. The story’s most unsettling turn is its false ending: a dead tiger had offered reassurance before anyone could be certain the threat was gone.

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Source: Kenneth Anderson, “The Striped Terror of Chamala Valley,” Nine Man-Eaters and One Rogue. This post is a short summary, not the original chapter. Book details and editions.