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New Indian Express
09-08-2025
- General
- New Indian Express
Nepal struggles with man-tiger conflict, with at least 42 killed in past five years
KATHMANDU: As Nepal continues to witness man-tiger conflicts after an increased number of tigers, experts on Saturday advocated the need to change human behaviour towards tigers and taking efforts at managing the habitats for the big cats better. In the past five years, at least 42 people have lost their lives in tiger attacks, data from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), the body responsible for preserving wildlife in the country, showed. Nepal has the Royal Bengal Tiger, also called Pate Bagh (Pate meaning stripped) or Nepal Tiger in the local language. At least 16 of the over 350 tigers across Nepal have been identified for straying beyond their natural habitat or protected areas and preying on both humans and livestock, the officials said. Pointing out that tiger-human conflicts have occurred in the past too and calling it natural, Ghanashyam Gurung, WWF country representative for Nepal, said there have been conflicts between man and other wild animals too, for instance elephants. However, the incidents of man-tiger conflict have reduced to a minimum. Compared to the data from 2019- 2020, such incidents are negligible in 2024-25, Gurung said. He, however, did not give exact numbers.
News18
09-08-2025
- General
- News18
Nepal struggles to manage tigers straying into human settlements
Kathmandu, Aug 9 (PTI) As Nepal continues to witness man-tiger conflicts after an increased number of tigers, experts on Saturday advocated the 'need to change human behaviour towards tiger" and taking efforts at managing the habitats for the big cats better. In the past five years, at least 42 people have lost their lives in tiger attacks, data from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), the body responsible for preserving wildlife in the country, showed. Nepal has the Royal Bengal Tiger, also called Pate Bagh (Pate meaning stripped) or Nepal Tiger in the local language. At least 16 of the over 350 tigers across Nepal have been identified for straying beyond their natural habitat or protected areas and preying on both humans and livestock, the officials said. Pointing out that tiger-human conflicts have occurred in the past too and calling it 'natural," Ghanashyam Gurung, WWF country representative for Nepal, said there have been conflicts between man and other wild animals too, for instance elephants. 'However, the incidents of man-tiger conflict have reduced to a minimum. Compared to the data from 2019–2020, such incidents are negligible in 2024-25, Gurung said. He, however, did not give exact numbers. The next tiger census is yet to happen. Haribhadra Acharya, DNPWC's Information Officer and senior ecologist said reasons for tigers straying into human habitations near the protected areas or buffer zone vary for each and every individual. 'The tigers can be old, sick or wounded and cannot prey on herbivorous animals in their natural habitat. Such tigers usually enter human settlements in search of food and start creating problems for the local people," Acharya explained. Loss of habitat for various reasons also contributes to tigers straying beyond forests. As recently as on July 22, a tiger that had entered a human settlement from Chitwan National Park was brought under control and captured from Buddhanagar in Bharatpur Metropolis, Ganga Prasad Khatiwada, Chief Conservation Officer of the park, told local media. Nepal's current tiger carrying capacity is around 400, the WWF Nepal official said, adding, the issue of carrying capacity was also discussed during the International Tigers' Day on July 29 at a meeting in Kathmandu. The experts participating in the meeting pointed out that the carrying capacity of the tiger is not a big issue as such. The five protected areas that are home to the tiger species are Chitwan, Bardiya, Shuklaphanta, Bankey and Parsa. Chitwan National Park, Nepal's first national park at the Himalayan foothills in Terai region and inscribed in the UNESCO World Heritage list for natural sites, had six such tigers from amongst 128, the largest number among all protected areas. An old tiger died recently, reducing the number to five. Four of these 16 are from Bardiya and there is one each in Parsa and Bankey areas. Five tigers that had led to man-animal conflict over the last few months are in the Central Zoo in Lalitpur district, near Kathmandu. 'As the number of tigers has increased in the five protected areas over the years, managing them has also become a difficult task," conservationists said. People living near the forest areas, especially the buffer zones, chop trees for fire-wood and cut grass for their livestock. Highways and other infrastructure projects cut across forests. 'As we can't change the behaviour of the tiger, we need to change the human behaviour towards the tiger," Gurung said. The WWF Nepal has, therefore, launched a campaign regarding behaviour change in the areas adjoining to the protected areas. 'This has started showing good results," Gurung pointed out. PTI SBP NPK GRS GRS (This story has not been edited by News18 staff and is published from a syndicated news agency feed - PTI) view comments First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
Korea Herald
08-08-2025
- General
- Korea Herald
Tigers thrive, conflicts decline in Nepal
CHITWAN, Nepal (Kathmandu Post/ANN) -- As the world marks Global Tiger Day on Tuesday, Nepal has a rare conservation success story to share. Not only has the country nearly tripled its tiger population over the past 12 years, but the frequency of fatal human-tiger conflicts has also begun to decline. The country now eyes sustainable coexistence of the big cats and human beings. Wildlife conservationists claim Nepal can sustain up to 500 tigers based on available habitat, prey species and landscape management. "Nepal's protected areas, buffer zones and forest corridors are now in a position to accommodate around 500 tigers. The availability of prey, improved grassland management and overall conservation efforts make this target feasible," said Hem Sagar Baral, a renowned wildlife biologist. Nepal had just 121 tigers in 2010. By 2022, that number had surged to 355, a remarkable achievement given the global decline in tiger habitats and populations. Over the past century, tiger habitats and population plummeted in the world, leaving the conservation authorities struggling to increase the tiger population. Experts attribute the population increase to effective anti-poaching measures, habitat restoration, prey population recovery, expansion of national parks and the establishment of wildlife corridors with India. The Chitwan National Park, the country's oldest protected area, is home to the highest number of tigers in the country at 128, followed by Bardiya with 125. Likewise, Parsa houses 41, Shuklaphanta 36 and Banke 25. Haribhadra Acharya, a senior ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, emphasized that the country's core national park areas can support around 400 tigers, while surrounding forests can accommodate another 100. "The increase in tiger numbers does not necessarily lead to more human-tiger conflict," said Acharya. "In fact, deaths from tiger attacks have decreased over the past three years," he added. According to data from the National Trust for Nature Conservation, 75 people have died from tiger attacks in the past seven years. However, the annual death toll has fluctuated. In fiscal year 2021-22, there were 21 deaths, which dropped to 12 in 2022-23, 10 in 2023-24 and seven in the last fiscal year of 2024-25. While the rise in tiger numbers is a conservation triumph, it also offers new economic prospects for the country. "We now need to capitalise on this success by promoting wildlife tourism," said Naresh Subedi, a member-secretary at the NTNC. "Tigers attract high-spending tourists. By offering opportunities to see them, we can help both conservation and local economies." At the same time, the increase in tiger density is altering traditional behavioral patterns. Generally a male tiger marks its territory over 50 square kilometers (5,000 hectares) while a female marks the territory of about 30 square kilometers (3,000 hectares). "In Bardiya, the average home range of a tiger has shrunken to just 7-8 square kilometers (700-800 hectares), compared to the norm of 30-50 square kilometers (3,000-5,000 hectares)," said Ashok Ram, warden of Bardiya National Park. This compression has led to overlapping territories and occasional infighting of tigers. "When young males lose territorial fights, they are forced to move towards park's fringes, often ending up in human settlements and preying on livestock. Such incidents usually involve older, injured or weak tigers," said Ram. A female tiger generally gives birth to two to four cubs, sometimes even seven. These cubs stay with their mother for up to three years before moving out to establish their own territories. Male cubs often end up in conflict with their fathers while trying to establish dominance. This natural dispersion process sometimes pushes tigers near human settlements. Tigers are naturally elusive and avoid humans unless provoked or desperate. "Tigers don't attack without reason. They are majestic, shy creatures. Even when they venture near villages, they prefer to avoid direct confrontation," said Ram. To mitigate human-wildlife conflict, conservationists stress the need for better habitat management. "We must develop good habitats with patches of open grasslands for prey and dense cover for stalking," said Baburam Lamichhane, a tiger expert. "Proper habitat zoning in and outside national parks can ensure that tigers remain within their natural range." According to Lamichhane, the density of prey animals determines how many tigers an area can support. "Studies in the Chitwan-Parsa area show it can support over 170 tigers and potentially more when buffer zones are included," he surmised. Despite challenges, Nepal has emerged as a global leader in tiger conservation. The species is not only a symbol of power in Nepali culture but also a key ecological indicator. As apex predators, tigers help regulate herbivore populations, maintaining ecological balance and preventing the spread of disease. "The real challenge now is showing the world that humans and tigers can live side-by-side," said Baral. "If we succeed, it will be a global conservation milestone." As Nepal celebrates its success in expanding its tiger population and reducing human-tiger conflict, data from Chitwan shows how once-troubled areas like Kumroj are witnessing fewer deadly encounters with the big cats. The fiscal year of 2021-22 saw 14 deaths from tiger attacks in Chitwan, with six incidents in Kumroj Buffer Zone Community Forest area alone, four of them fatal. Since then, tiger attacks have declined. Just one person from the Kumroj area from a tiger attack in the fiscal year of 2024-25. Lamichhane, who has researched human-leopard and tiger interactions, believes that while tiger numbers are rising, there are not necessarily more attacks. "Tigers relocate to new forests as populations grow. Conflict arises when locals, unaware of their presence, enter these areas for firewood or forage," he explained. "Just around five percent of all tigers may pose a threat to humans. Their timely capture can prevent casualties," suggested Lamichhane. Yet, managing rescued tigers is an ongoing problem. On July 23, Chitwan National Park captured a tiger near Meghauli village. Although it had not harmed anyone, its proximity to human settlements made intervention necessary. With limited enclosures, tigers are often kept in inadequate facilities. "We currently house seven tigers, but space and resources are tight," said Abinash Thapa Magar, information officer at the Chitwan National Park. Conservationists underscore the need for building a spacious area. "We need spacious, zoo-style habitats to house rescued tigers safely and boost eco-tourism — a step crucial for sustaining both conservation and community support," said Ganesh Panta, chief conservation officer of Chitwan National Park.
