Brave Woman Drives Tiger Away, Saves Her Husband's Life

In the early morning light on the plains of southern Nepal, wildlife rangers prepared elephants for a patrol through the dense vegetation of Chitwan National Park. Each elephant carried two rangers and a soldier, tasked with ensuring their safety during the mission.

The primary objective is to search for poachers, a task made easier from the vantage point of an elephant's back, according to a park coordinator. Since 2010, the number of poachers in the area has significantly declined.

The protection of tigers in Chitwan has greatly improved since 2010, with the tiger population in Nepal rising from 121 to 355 by the last count in 2022. The availability of 54 elephants plays a crucial role in this effort, allowing rangers to navigate the challenging terrain that vehicles often cannot manage during the rainy season. The size and presence of elephants deter tigers from attacking.

Rangers are also on the lookout for injured animals or tigers that have attacked humans. When a tiger has been involved in an attack, rangers attempt to capture it, as there is a high likelihood it may attack again. Currently, seven tigers are kept in captivity in Chitwan National Park, where they are fed a substantial amount of meat daily, putting pressure on the park's limited budget.

Recently, Nepal's Prime Minister expressed concern over the increasing number of tiger attacks on humans. He noted that with over 350 tigers in the country, it is unsustainable for them to pose a threat to human life. The Prime Minister suggested that Nepal should consider relocating some tigers to other countries.

Experts emphasize that determining an appropriate tiger population is complex. Ideally, each tiger should have adequate access to prey such as deer and wild buffalo and be able to coexist with humans without fatal encounters. Historically, tigers inhabited the Terai plains long before human settlements. A century ago, it is estimated that around 100,000 tigers roamed Asia. However, deforestation and rampant poaching led to a drastic decline in their numbers. By the 1970s, fewer than 50 Bengal tigers remained in Nepal.

From 1996 to 2006, Nepal experienced a civil conflict that allowed poachers to operate freely. A peace agreement and a commitment to double the tiger population in 2010 led to collaborations among rangers, the military, local communities, and international organizations. Nepal has seen remarkable success, increasing its tiger population from 121 to 355 by 2022, though this success has also resulted in a rise in human fatalities due to tiger attacks.

One such incident involved a man named Lila Raj Kumal, who was attacked by a tiger while collecting firewood with his wife. His wife bravely defended him, using a stick to drive the tiger away. Lila sustained serious injuries but is grateful to his wife for saving his life.

Despite the ongoing conservation efforts, the rise in tiger attacks raises concerns. Official government statistics report 32 fatalities and 15 injuries from tiger attacks since 2018. Experts note that many incidents may go unreported.

Rangers believe that most tiger attacks involve younger, inexperienced tigers pushed out of their territories by larger males. These tigers may act defensively when they are close to human settlements, particularly during activities like fishing or wood gathering. A notorious man-eating tiger operated in the area from 2010 to 2017 but has since disappeared.

To mitigate risks, rangers are working with local farmers to build secure fences around livestock areas. Additionally, they are educating the community on safety measures, such as avoiding bright clothing and traveling in groups while foraging for firewood.

The current focus is on maintaining the tiger population rather than increasing it, as the balance between conservation and human safety remains delicate.