A woman was attacked by a tiger in the Ussuriysk urban district of Primorsky Krai. She sustained injuries to her shoulder, arm, and hand and was transported to a hospital for treatment. On the scene, hunting control crews are working to reconstruct the sequence of events in detail, according to Center “Tiger of the Amur.”
The incident happened roughly 3.5 km from the village of Rakovka. The press service for the non-profit organization outlined what happened, while eyewitnesses indicate that the victim’s family questions some of the published statements.
Several people had driven into the taiga in search of a dog that had disappeared the day before. They noticed flattened grass and blood traces; one passenger exited the vehicle to inspect the area.
According to the Amur Tiger organization, a tiger emitted a warning roar near the road and along the trail. The woman did not stop and kept moving forward, and then the tiger sprang forward and attacked her.
Meanwhile, the victim’s sister disputes the organization’s version, saying the animal attacked from behind and that the claim of a repeated roar is unfounded. She also notes that anyone who saw the attack could only speak with police and had no direct contact with the Amur Tiger administration.
“Those involved in the events only spoke to a police officer. A survey was conducted at the hospital. Was it aggression? An eyewitness stated that the tiger attacked from behind, but these statements appeared after a post about the incident,” she stated.
Socialbites.ca spoke with the injured woman’s sister, who confirmed that only the police had spoken with them. “There was nobody but a cop. No one spoke to anyone else. It was all untrue. I was nearby. The patient was taken from the operating room with me. It was just us, her husband, the police officer, and me. That’s all,” she said.
According to the sister, the victim remained conscious after the attack. “She is now resting. It feels like she has a strong guardian angel. The husband did not seem surprised,” she added.
Representatives of Amur Tigers told Socialbites.ca that the victim did not engage in a fight with the animal. “The tiger did not intend to kill her and withdrew. The authorities will determine all circumstances, including what happened to the tiger and why, before deciding on any further action.”
Alternate versions
Newspaper News, citing an unnamed source, reports that the victim was the wife of a hunter.
“According to the main version, the couple knew about a bloody bed in the forest — a spot where the tiger guarded its prey until it was safe to approach. It is possible the hunter hoped to eliminate the Amur tiger,” the source said.
One version suggests a man in a truck could have collided with a tiger, prompting the driver to flee after the incident.
The newspaper’s source added that the 26-year-old woman was described as in moderate condition, with tears observed on her hands.
Channel 112 reported that police suspect the victim’s husband of illegal fishing in connection with the case.
Amur Mash channel notes that the victim changed her account three times during questioning, each time offering a new reason for leaving the group. She first mentioned picking a fern, then needing to use the restroom, and finally looking for a dog.
Amur tigers are listed in the Red Book. Official data indicates that around 95% of the world’s population resides in Russia, with the species living primarily in the southern reaches of the Russian Far East.
Illegal hunting of Amur tigers carries penalties including fines up to one million rubles and potential imprisonment for up to four years.
Attribution: Centre for Amur Tiger information and media reports referenced within this summary.