Challenges For Human-wildlife Coexistence

According to a report from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, wildlife attacks in Nepal led to 39 deaths and nearly 200 injuries in the fiscal year 2079/80. The report also highlights that wildlife caused damage to 531 houses and sheds, with 10,426 incidents of wildlife-related damage recorded during this period. The Department attributes this rise in conflict to increasing population density and unplanned land use around protected areas, which have degraded and reduced wildlife habitats. As a result, animals are leaving their natural habitats and entering human settlements, causing significant human and economic losses. The report points out that human casualties, along with damage to crops, houses, and livestock, are the consequences of this escalating human-wildlife conflict. This issue is not confined to protected areas but affects most regions of the country, posing a threat to both human-wildlife coexistence and environmental sustainability.