Tigers in villages: Nepal battles human-wildlife conflict
KATHMANDU, Aug 9: Nepal is facing increasing challenges in managing human-tiger conflicts as its Royal Bengal tiger population grows. Experts are calling for a shift in human behavior and improved habitat management to reduce incidents of tigers straying into villages and attacking people or livestock.
Over the past five years, at least 42 people have died in tiger attacks, according to data from Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). Of the more than 350 tigers in Nepal, at least 16 have been identified as frequently moving beyond protected areas into human settlements. Ghanashyam Gurung, WWF Nepal’s country representative, acknowledged the ongoing conflict but said such incidents have declined significantly compared to 2019–2020. While exact figures were not shared, he emphasized that human actions must adapt since tiger behavior cannot be changed. WWF Nepal has launched a campaign to promote behavioral change among people living near tiger habitats, and early results are reportedly positive.
Nepal’s tiger numbers have increased dramatically, from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022, following a commitment made by 13 tiger-range countries to double the population within 12 years. The next census is pending, but the country is believed to be nearing its tiger carrying capacity, estimated at around 400.
DNPWC senior ecologist Haribhadra Acharya explained that tigers often leave their natural habitats when they are old, sick, or injured and can no longer hunt. Habitat loss and fragmentation—caused by deforestation, infrastructure development, and human activity in buffer zones—also contribute to this trend.
Chitwan National Park, Nepal’s oldest and a UNESCO World Heritage Site, hosts the largest number of tigers. Currently, five out of the 128 tigers in the park have strayed and caused conflicts. Other cases are reported from Bardiya, Bankey, Parsa, and Shuklaphanta. Five problem tigers have been relocated to the Central Zoo near Kathmandu.
Conservationists stress that managing the rising tiger population, especially in areas intersected by roads and human settlements, is becoming more complex. They urge continued education, community involvement, and coexistence strategies to prevent further loss of life and ensure the safety of both humans and tigers. (AP)