Over the past decade, Nepal achieved a remarkable milestone: through rigorous management and strategic planning, its wild tiger population drastically increased. Yet this conservation triumph has brought a critical dilemma to light. While tiger numbers are booming, their natural habitats are shrinking, triggering a sharp rise in human-tiger conflict. As fatal encounters increase, communities living on the fringes of national parks are growing resentful, questioning the true cost of this "successful" preservation. Protecting apex predators cannot come at the expense of human safety and livelihoods. The time has come to shift focus from mere population numbers to peaceful coexistence. To build lasting harmony between wild cats and local residents, the government must prioritize human-wildlife conflict prevention and deliver concrete economic incentives to the communities bearing the brunt of conservation.
by Keshab Poudel Aug 10, 2026
