Baripada, April 15: Villagers in the buffer region of the Similipal Tiger Reserve are living in fear as domestic buffaloes continue to die due to attack by unknown wild animals.

Though officials of the tiger reserve could not conclusively identify the killer animals, but they believe that it could be a Royal Bengal tiger.

As the menace goes unabated, the department has urged the villagers not to let their cattle go into the deep forest.

In the latest incident that happened two days ago, carcass of two missing buffaloes belonging to one Sura Hao of Kantabahali village were found. One was almost devoured, while another body was found half consumed.

Satkosia forest range office under Karnjia division Saroj Mohanty said: "The remains of the buffaloes were burnt."

In the past one month, unknown wild animals have killed nearly 10 domestic cattle within a range of nearly 10sqkm.

The repeated attacks on the cattle have put the wildlife department in a tizzy. Neither the suspected tiger is sighted by any forest staff member nor has anything been captured in the cameras installed at certain vulnerable spots.

Deputy director of the tiger reserve Ajit Satpathy said: "From the attacking pattern as well as the sign and symptoms of injury marks on the prey, we believe that it could well be a Royal Bengal tiger. Generally, Royal Bengal tiger eats the prey from rear."

"We have stepped up vigil in the area. About 20 personnel are keeping a close watch in the area," he said.

Honorary wildlife warden Bhanoomitra Acharya: "It indicates that a Royal Bengal tiger has grown old and lost its capability to catch prey by fighting with other animals in its habitat. The worrying factor is that the poachers could kill it by poisoning. The department should persuade the villagers not to send their livestock to these forest areas."

"Besides, the domestic animals carry various types of diseases. As a result, the big cat could easily be afflicted," he said.