In October 2009, 'Global Tiger Workshop' was organized in Kathmandu. More than 250 experts, scientists and government representatives from 13 participating countries agreed to take steps to save tigers before they become extinct. Plans were drawn up to combat poaching and poaching of tigers.

A century ago, there were about 100,000 tigers in the world, but it was a matter of natural concern that there were only 3,500. Tigers were declining due to illegal wildlife trade, habitat loss, fragmentation and large-scale poaching. Therefore, they were worried that if immediate, urgent and transformative work is not done, the wild tiger will disappear forever. This workshop also announced the commitment to double the number of tigers within the next 10 years.

The next year in 2010, the World Tiger Forum conference was held in St. Petersburg, Russia. The conference decided on the slogan 'Doubling the Tiger' to double the number of tigers by 2022 by setting the 'Global Tiger Recovery Programme'. In the survey of 2009, there were 121 tigers in Nepal, by 2022, Nepal has taken the target of reaching 250 tigers. After becoming the first country to exceed the target of 355, this achievement of Nepal became a topic of discussion at the international level.

The world is appreciating the achievements of Nepal in the protection of tigers, an endangered wild animal in the world. However, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli's statement on tiger attack and human loss last Thursday has raised many questions. In the program conducted by the Ministry of Forests and Environment regarding the review of COP-29, he said, 'You cannot raise tigers by feeding people, it is enough for us to have one and a half hundred tigers.'

The pain of tiger attacks and human losses in forest areas and human settlements cannot and should not be ignored. While we are sharing happiness in the success of conservation, on the other hand, we are also paying a human price. But, as the Prime Minister said, is it enough to protect only one and a half hundred tigers? If that was enough, in the year 2010, when Nepal made a commitment, the number of tigers had reached almost that number. Since then, the state's investment for protection, protection workers and the struggle of the community was useless?

There is a Nepali proverb - Whether the tiger of the forest eats or not, the tiger of the heart eats. Why is the expression of Prime Minister Oli consistent with this proverb? Nepal has been recognized in the world by the many efforts and successes of state agencies, organizations concerned with tigers, conservationists and communities in tiger conservation. But, why is the Prime Minister devaluing the work of conservation workers? 

Looking at this rate of tiger growth in our country, it seems that the number may increase even more. But we should take this not only as a threat but also as an opportunity. We should also look at the benefits that the world community can take from the success seen in tiger tourism, environmental protection and balance. 

Also, there is another incident where the Prime Minister was eaten by a 'Minko Bagh'. Sharad Adhikari, a member of the Tiger Conservation Committee, has proposed to him about the 'Prime Minister-Tiger Dialogue' program regarding the celebration of Tiger Day. At that time, Oli replied - 'The subject is very good, a program of a serious nature. What if the tiger ate him before that?' 

Tigers are only killing people? Rhinos, elephants, leopards have also caused human damage. In Terai-Madhesh, there are reports of deaths due to snakebite. The Prime Minister's statement will not create a comment that any animal that kills people is an enemy? Animals also have their own life cycles. Their role in biodiversity and ecological cycles is important. If there are endangered or threatened animals, they will be protected. The National Parks and Wildlife Protection Act prohibits hunting of protected wildlife. Schedule 1 of the Convention on the Control of International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) and the list of threatened wild animals of the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) also include the tiger as a threatened species. 

Nepal, India, Bhutan, Bangladesh, China, Myanmar, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos, Cambodia, Russia, Malaysia, Vietnam, tigers are found only in 13 countries of the world. A subspecies of tiger, the tiger is found in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan. In 1995, there were 98 tigers in Nepal. By the time it arrived in 2009, it reached 121. The number of tigers increased from 198 in 2013 to 235 in 2018 and reached 355 in 2022. 

Habitat security and food availability

Wildlife-human conflict continues. However, if coexistence is maintained in such a way that there is no damage on either side, the relationship between man and nature will remain. The first role of balancing it is the state. Are the habitats of the protected areas suitable for tigers, are they becoming fragmented? There should be no delay in implementing further action plans on the availability of food species and the identification of problem tigers.

The main food of the tiger is deer, deer, wild boar, nilgai, gaurigai etc. To reduce the number of tigers or to start a campaign to increase their diet? Increasing the number of food species appears to be beneficial across the board. Tigers need herbivores, they need water and grasslands, tigers need dense forests. In this way biodiversity survives and ecosystem cycles continue at their own pace. But why are we trying to destroy it?

Based on our forest area and the number of food species, there is no need to worry about tiger growth. A report has been published that the hunting density in the Chitnaw-Parsa complex can support 175 tigers. In the 'Assessment of Ecological Carrying Capacity of Royal Bengal Tiger' report, it is mentioned that even the intermediate zone can support more tigers. While now there are 169 tigers in Chitwan and Parsa. Similarly, the Bardia-Banke complex can hold 161 tigers, a study has been published recently. It is mentioned in the research article titled 'Recovery of Tigers: Assessing Ecological Carrying Capacity in Bardia-Banke Complex' that availability of chital and deer, the main food of tigers in both these protected areas is sufficient. Now there are 150 tigers in these two areas. 

The average lifespan of a tiger found only in Nepal, India, Bangladesh and Bhutan is only 15 years. Meanwhile, some have died by accident. Between 2009 and 2018, 55 adult tigers were reported dead. A report published in the journal 'Biodiversity and Conservation' states that most of the tigers have been killed. Even since then, the trend of finding dead tigers has not stopped.

How to prevent human damage?

With the increase in the number of tigers, human losses have also increased. In the last six years alone, 68 people have lost their lives in tiger attacks. Experts say that the tiger's natural diet is not humans. Tigers attack humans only when they cannot get natural food. The target of the 'problematic' tiger becomes a human being. Injured, very hungry or elderly, tigers prone to eating people or domestic animals are problematic. No matter what the experts say, 90% of tigers roam within their territory, only 10% of tigers go outside. Human damage can be greatly reduced if only they are monitored and controlled. 

Even though the Prime Minister has expressed great concern, there is no need to panic yet. However, the state should not delay in making a comprehensive plan for the management of growing tigers. First, there was no human loss. It is mandatory to provide immediate relief and compensation. There is no alternative to monitoring and identifying and controlling aggressive or problematic tigers. For this, it is important to pay attention to the expansion and management of rescue centers in parks or zoos. 

The state should formulate and implement a concrete plan to reduce the forest dependence of the residents of the surrounding and intermediate areas of the park. Most of the deaths occurred while going to the forest area to collect grass, firewood, or go fishing. The locals should be given livelihood options. Millions of tourists come to Chitwan and Bardia just to see tigers. We cannot forget the positive side of the job it gave to the local people, the expansion of hotels and restaurants and the overall economy. Development of tourism around protected areas can be a basis. Another thing is to increase tiger-friendly awareness among the locals. 

Settlement expansion and encroachment of land in intermediate forest areas, poor management of safe tarbera, new budget, human pressure on natural resources are the challenges seen now. Even though the biological pathways within the protected area are not suitable for wildlife, human losses are increasing. We are experiencing the unpleasant consequences of roads and physical structures on the way of wild animals.