Nepal’s Tiger Conservation Crisis and the Path to Coexistence

As Nepal marked Global Tiger Day 2025, the conservation establishment presented what appears to be an unprecedented triumph: tiger populations have tripled from 121 in 2010 to 355 in 2022. However, this numerical success masks a disturbing reality that conservation authorities have systematically downplayed. The same period witnessed human casualties increase from 6 nationwide between 2014-2019 to 31 deaths in Bardia National Park vicinity alone between 2019-2024.