Corona Daily 448: Operation Tiger in Kent

On Saturday, 2 May, at 10.23 a.m., the Sevenoaks police station phone rang. The Kent police have been overwhelmed with complaints about those breaking stay-at-home orders. But this call was different. The caller had seen a large wild tiger at Mote road in Ightham village. As per procedure, the police constable noted the caller’s details. He then informed his superior, who whistled on hearing it. Everyone was overworked, but a tiger was more exciting than a virus.

It took the efficient Kent police only twenty minutes to organize ten armed police officers. Ightham was merely four miles away. The village, known for cob trees, is surrounded by massive woods. The police Land Rovers would need to cover a large area. The police chief had asked for a helicopter to assist them. It would be easier to sight the wild cat from the skies.

Two cyclists were stopped next to Ightham Mote, the well known medieval manor house. The cyclists without masks were terrified, but what the police said surprised them. ‘Get out of the area, as soon as you can, and don’t leave the main roads, because a tiger is on the loose’.

Fortunately, there weren’t any people on the roads. The police had decided not to use the megaphone. It may provoke the tiger into action. From the jeeps, they saw the roving helicopter above them. Phone contact was established. It was a matter of minutes before they would locate the tiger.

*****

With a population of about two thousand, Ightham is not large. Last few weeks were quieter than usual. The sound of the helicopter made the residents restless and puzzled. Many came out of their houses to watch it.

85 year old Juliet Simpson was in the kitchen when her son, Duncan, called her. ‘Mum, there are armed police on the hill going in the direction of your house. Don’t know what’s happening.’

My goodness, said Mrs Simpson and came out of the house. She saw the approaching Land Rovers. The police chief, carrying his loaded gun, came out of the car. He was informed by the helicopter pilot that the tiger sat basking in the sun in the garden of this house.

‘Would you like to be introduced to the tiger?’ The smiling Mrs Smith asked the policemen. They all followed her.

*****

Juliet Simpson is a sculptress. Twenty years ago, she had sculpted the tiger with wire and resin. It looked admirably lifelike. The relieved police chatted pleasantly for twenty minutes and left. As to why the tiger that was stationary in the same place for twenty years should cause such mayhem today, the police explained later.

It seems in March and April; Netflix showed the documentary series ‘Tiger King- murder, mayhem and madness’. This series was watched widely during the lockdown in Kent.

Ravi