Nepal's Tiger Conservation Success Creates New Risks for Forest-Edge Communities
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Nepal has tripled its wild tiger population, a major conservation achievement. This success, combined with large-scale male migration from rural areas, has increased dangerous encounters between tigers and women who now perform subsistence work in forest corridors. Recent research and attack data show these incidents are concentrated in specific areas and during routine activities like grass cutting and cattle herding.
Facts First
- Nepal has tripled its wild tiger population, a significant conservation milestone.
- Large-scale male migration abroad has shifted subsistence work to women, who now perform high-risk tasks like collecting firewood and fodder in forest edges.
- Recent fatal attacks are concentrated near forest boundaries, with 84% of recorded attacks in Bardiya district in 2024 occurring within 1 kilometer of the forest edge.
- Research indicates most fatal attacks occur during specific subsistence activities: nearly one-third while herding cattle and another third while cutting grass.
- Forest department records from 2021-2025 show the majority of those attacked while cutting grass have been women.
What Happened
Nepal has achieved a major conservation success by tripling its wild tiger population. This increase coincides with a demographic shift in rural forest-edge communities, where large-scale migration of men abroad has pushed women into performing subsistence work in these areas. Activities like collecting firewood, fodder, and cutting grass for livestock now carry a higher risk. In December 2025, 17-year-old Binita Pariyar was killed by a tiger while cutting grass. Five more people were killed in forests around Bardiya National Park in the four weeks following her death.
Why this Matters to You
If you live in or near these forest-edge communities, your daily subsistence activities may now carry a significantly higher risk. The forests designated for collecting essential materials like fodder and firewood are also areas where tiger encounters are most likely, especially within one kilometer of the forest boundary. Your risk could be heightened if you perform tasks like herding cattle or cutting grass, which research indicates account for nearly two-thirds of fatal attacks. The timing of your work also matters, as wildlife movement in key corridors often peaks in the early morning and at dusk.
What's Next
Community safety measures are likely to become a critical focus for local authorities and conservation groups. Efforts may be directed toward mitigating risks in high-activity zones like the Khata Corridor, which connects two major protected areas. Further research and monitoring could lead to more targeted warnings or adjusted guidelines for using forest resources. The situation presents a complex challenge for balancing celebrated conservation goals with the immediate safety needs of the people living closest to the success.