Nepal Plans Park for Tigers Involved in Attacks

The Nepal government proposes building a 50-hectare park in the Durganar–Tikauli forest near Chitwan National Park to house tigers responsible for human deaths. Nepal’s Bengal tiger population has grown to 355 from 121 in 2009, increasing conflicts with people. From 2019 to 2023, 38 people died in tiger attacks, leading to the capture of 15 tigers.

Hari Bhadra Acharya of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation hopes the park will be self-funded through tourism. However, critics like Babu Ram Lamichhane point out that even a larger enclosure still represents permanent human control of the animals.

A 2017 study found fewer than 5% of tracked tigers engaged in conflict, often due to being transient or having difficulty hunting wild prey. The plan faces concerns about financial sustainability, as tourism revenue proved unreliable during the COVID-19 pandemic. Clear guidelines for euthanizing problem tigers, permitted by law, also remain undeveloped.