Human-animal conflict in most parts of Nepal, particularly in districts adjacent to national parks and forests, has become a major threat to the lives and livelihoods of people. Recent data from Koshi Province highlights the growing severity of this issue. Elephant attacks in the eastern districts—primarily Jhapa, Morang, Sunsari, Udayapur, and Ilam—killed 97 people and severely injured 87 others over the past 20 years. Jhapa accounted for 72 of those deaths, a cause for serious concern. According to forest officials, elephants frequently stray into Nepal from neighboring India via Jhapa, often leading to deadly encounters with humans. Over the same period, 41 elephants also died, many while searching for food or fleeing dangerous encounters with humans. In the past five years alone, more than 150 people have been killed by wild animals in Nepal. Tigers, leopards, rhinos, and even bears were responsible for most of the fatalities. Such attacks have been occurring alarmingly often in the buffer zones of Banke, Parsa, Bardiya, and Chitwan National Parks. Farmers repeatedly lose crops and livestock, and individuals out foraging for food or collecting firewood are often attacked unexpectedly.
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The forest-dependent communities live in a state of constant fear, unsure whether venturing out for daily tasks might prove fatal. Human-wildlife conflict is one of the fastest-growing concerns in conservation, according to officials at the Ministry of Forests and Environment. Human settlements have increasingly encroached into wildlife habitats. Wild animals enter towns, farms, and villages in search of food and shelter, and they may attack if they feel threatened or cornered. For both humans and animals, survival—not aggression—is the primary driver of such encounters. Government efforts have been fragmented and sluggish, despite the increasing number of tragedies. While offering the victims' families a one-time payment of Rs 1 million may provide immediate relief, it does not prevent future incidents. Crop insurance schemes, such as the newly launched Rs 5 million plan in Koshi Province, may help alleviate the financial burden, but without improved planning and preventive safety measures, more deaths are inevitable.
Watchtowers stand empty, fences lie on the ground, and warning systems are either dysfunctional or absent where they are most needed. Locals, who are on the front lines, are often excluded from decision-making processes. Roads, fields, and homes now obstruct elephant corridors—natural trails that once allowed animals to move freely. These corridors must be mapped, protected, and respected—sometimes in collaboration with India. One district or one species alone is no longer the answer. Human-wildlife conflict has become a growing national issue that demands comprehensive planning, consistent implementation, and active community involvement. People should not have to fear for their lives while sleeping in their homes or working in their fields. And wild animals should not be killed for behaving naturally—seeking food, foraging, and roaming within their habitats. Without a unified effort, the toll will continue to rise, and more heartache will follow.
