BHARATPUR, July 24: In the Fiscal Year (FY) 2024/25, 11 people lost their lives due to attacks by wild animals such as elephants, rhinos, and tigers in Chitwan National Park (CNP).
According to the CNP's Information Officer, Avinash Thapa Magar, rhino attacks were the deadliest, claiming eight lives. Additionally, two people were killed by elephants and one by a tiger. During the same period, 41 people were injured in wildlife attacks—32 seriously and nine with minor injuries.
Most of the fatalities occurred when individuals had entered the forest to collect grass or wild vegetables (ferns). The park reported that people have died due to attacks by animals, including tigers, rhinos, elephants, wild boars, crocodiles, and gaurs or water buffaloes.
Nine people killed in nine months due to wild animal attacks in...
Over the past five years, 73 people have died due to wild animal attacks in Chitwan National Park, and 169 have been injured. Among the years, FY 2021/22 saw the highest number of deaths, with 30 fatalities—21 of which were caused by tiger attacks.
Residents of buffer zone areas typically enter the park or community forests with permission to collect fodder and firewood. Prakash Dhungana, Chairperson of the CNP Buffer Zone Community Forest Users Committee, emphasized the need to manage wildlife habitats to reduce human-wildlife conflict. The park has reported ongoing awareness campaigns and the installation of mesh fences to mitigate such conflicts.
According to park data, 179 domestic animals were killed by wild animals within one year. Leopards were responsible for the majority of the losses, killing 140 animals. Tigers killed 37, and pythons killed two.
Additionally, elephants damaged 23 houses near the park. Of these, 13 households had their food storage areas specifically targeted by elephants during the FY, according to the CPN.
