36 people killed in tiger attacks in Bardiya in five years

Since the fiscal year of 2020-21, wildlife attacks have resulted in 53 deaths in the district.

A total of 36 people have lost their lives in tiger attacks in Bardiya district in the past five years. According to data from the Division Forest Office and Bardiya National Park, 12 deaths occurred in forest areas, while 24 were reported in national park and buffer zones. The most recent fatal attack took place on February 7, when 51-year-old Juna Kumari Lamichhane was killed while working in her field in ward 7 of Madhuwan Municipality. Since the fiscal year of 2020-21, wildlife attacks have resulted in 53 deaths in the district. Among them, 36 were caused by tigers, 11 by elephants, five by leopards and one by a rhinoceros. The latest tiger census recorded 125 Bengal tigers in Bardiya National Park, with an increasing leopard population as well. Local authorities and security personnel conduct night patrols to prevent wildlife from entering settlements. However, with human settlements expanding into forest areas and a shortage of natural prey, human-wildlife conflicts continue to rise.