Tigers in the Neighborhood: Factors Associated With Fatal Tiger Attacks in a Human‐Dominated Landscape, Nepal

ABSTRACT

Effective conservation of tigers ( Panthera tigris ) in human‐dominated landscapes requires dedicated efforts for careful management of human‐tiger conflict. Tiger attacks on humans are the extreme form of conflict occurring primarily during livelihood activities in the Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal. We assessed spatio‐temporal patterns of tiger attacks on humans and factors associated with human fatality. Data of tiger attacks on humans were collected from registered cases of national park offices and division forest offices. We interviewed 245 victims or family members attacked by tigers between 2010 and 2024 using a semi‐structured questionnaire. Most tiger attacks on humans (> 90%) occurred inside forest areas and over half were fatal. Men were attacked more frequently (65.3%) but fatality was higher among women (> 70%). The majority of the victims (93%) had education of secondary level or below. The frequency of tiger attacks on people of different ethnic groups was proportionate to their population. A large number of the tiger attacks occurred during forest resource collection or livestock herding. The victims' group size, sex, education level and posture during the tiger attacks affected human fatality. Tiger attacks can be minimized by applying adaptive management of buffer zone and corridor forests, adopting safety protocols through behavior change campaigns, promoting alternative livelihoods and tiger tourism, and proactive management of conflict‐causing tigers. The findings of this research have long‐term implications to strengthen human‐tiger co‐existence in human‐dominated landscapes in Nepal and similar landscapes.