Man-eating elephants and tigers terrorize village in India (updated a bit)

ABC News is reporting an "alarming" development in a village in India.

"Humans aren't natural prey for elephants and tigers, but in the Sundarban islands of West Bengal, India, an alarming number of people have been attacked -- even eaten -- by these wild beasts. In one part of the country, there have been reports of elephants going on a rampage, trampling homes and killing around 200 people in the past year. In one bizarre case, this typically plant-eating animal reportedly ate a human. In another part of the country, tigers, who have developed an appetite for human flesh, reportedly killed 14 people in one village alone last year. "Tigers generally aren't man eaters," said Dave Salmoni. "It's anomaly when an animal decides to start eating people."

If it is an anomaly when carnivorous tigers eat people, it is surely an anomaly when herbivorous elephants do! "These villagers are also unable to protect themselves because as Hindus, they worship elephants and can't kill them. However, Salmoni said that local wildlife officials were granted special permission to take out one particularly violent female elephant that reportedly killed 17 people."

Incidents like these are usually explained by scientists as an animals' response to habitat pressure, a fight for space. And they well could be. Although an elephant eating 17 people is a stretch. Scientists note that the animals in this village are changing their culture and behavior. "As food becomes scarcer, Salmoni explained, these large animals might turn on humans because they are easy prey. A place like the Sundarban, that's happened," Salmoni explained. "They're creating a culture of man-eating where moms are teaching cubs, people are easy prey."

The bible depicts a time when people WILL be hunted. "Fourth Seal: Widespread Death on Earth- When He opened the fourth seal, I heard the voice of the fourth living creature saying, “Come and see.” So I looked, and behold, a pale horse. And the name of him who sat on it was Death, and Hades followed with him. And power was given to them over a fourth of the earth, to kill with sword, with hunger, with death, and by the beasts of the earth." (Rev 6:7-8)

What strikes me about this incident apart from the others I've reported on, is that the animals are not responding to a one-time pressure of habitat. It is becoming generational. Mom tigers are teaching cubs to hunt humans. Once human prey becomes established as a generational pattern, it changes everything.

In the beginning, all animals were vegetarians. But after the Fall, Adam, Eve, satan, and the earth were cursed. (Gen 3:17) The curse got worse and worse until the thoughts were of evil in men's hearts continually (Gen 6:5) and decided to wipe all but 8 people from the earth and start over. (Gen 6:7). And so it goes, until Jesus comes again and again wipes out sin, but this time (almost) for good. (Rev 20:7-10). The curse and man's sins affect the earth and its creatures, (Rom 8:19-22) creatures who are waiting eagerly for redemption. Between now and then, things will degrade until the fourth seal is unleashed and the fear and dread of man that God had put into animals after the flood is (Gen 9:2) removed and we, as the scientist said, become their easy prey.

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