Ranthambore Tiger Reserve

A recent tragic incident unfolded in Uliyana village of SawaiMadhopur district, Rajasthan, located adjacent to the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve. This incident involved the death of a villager, Bharat Lal Meena, and the subsequent killing of a tiger, Chirico (T-86), which was allegedly involved in the attack. This event highlights a critical issue of human-wildlife conflict in the region, drawing attention to the complexities surrounding the protection of both human lives and tiger conservation.

Human-Wildlife Conflict in Ranthambore

• Human Casualties: From 2019 to 2024, there have been five human fatalities in tiger attacks, with 2,000+ cattle killed by tigers in the same period. However, tiger-related deaths are not officially recorded, leading to an underestimation of the severity of the conflict.
• Missing Tigers: A report surfaced that 25 out of 75 tigers in Ranthambore were reported missing, raising concerns about poaching, migration, and natural deaths. Of these, 14 were missing for less than a year, and 11 for over a year. The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) has directed the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) to investigate this issue.
• Historical Tension: The long-standing distrust between villagers and the Forest Department is rooted in the belief that the Ranthambore Tiger Reserve prioritizes wildlife conservation and tourism at the expense of the local population’s safety and livelihoods.
• Past Incidents: Villagers remember the 1980s when Fateh Singh Rathore, a key figure in the reserve’s conservation efforts, was attacked by Uliyana villagers. This event was driven by frustration over forced relocation for the reserve’s expansion, highlighting a history of tensions in the region.
• Compensation Issues: The Forest Department provides compensation for cattle losses due to tiger attacks, but the process is often cumbersome and bureaucratically challenging for the villagers.

Increasing Human-Tiger Conflict

• Changing Behavior of Tigers: Historically, tigers in the region would prey mostly on cattle, but in recent years, there has been an increase in human attacks. Some villagers report that tigers now show more aggression, especially in the buffer zones and agricultural fields near forests.
• Changing Livelihoods: The fear of tiger attacks has led to changes in how villagers manage their livestock. Many have started selling their cattle at a loss, fearing the tigers’ predation. The community also faces financial hardship due to these losses, which impacts their livelihoods from dairy and agriculture.
• Conservation vs. Human Safety
  • Forest Reserve Overcrowding: Experts believe that Ranthambore Tiger Reserve is overcrowded, with tigers outgrowing the available territory. This overcrowding may force tigers into more frequent encounters with human settlements in search of food or territory.
  • Unresolved Issues: Despite representations from villagers, the boundary walls separating the forest from agricultural land are inadequate, with gaps that allow tigers to easily cross into human areas. The Forest Department has not taken enough action to address these gaps or prevent crop and livestock loss, further exacerbating the situation.