Navigating Human-Rhino Conflicts in Nepal as Populations Surge
‘They come right past the house’: learning to live with rhinos as numbers soar in Nepal
The Guardian
Image: The Guardian
As the population of Indian rhinoceroses increases in Nepal, communities are facing rising human-wildlife conflicts. Initiatives led by Doma Paudel aim to educate locals on coexistence strategies, especially following tragic incidents involving wildlife attacks that have claimed lives in recent years.
- 01The population of Indian rhinoceroses in Nepal has increased from about 100 in the 1970s to nearly 700 today.
- 02Human-wildlife conflict incidents are rising, leading to fatalities, including eight deaths due to rhino attacks in 2024.
- 03Doma Paudel, Nepal's first female trail guide, is spearheading educational workshops to promote safer coexistence with wildlife.
- 04Local farmers, like Balkrishna Bhattarai, report frequent encounters with rhinos, affecting their livelihoods.
- 05Women are particularly vulnerable to wildlife encounters as they gather resources from forests.
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The population of Indian rhinoceroses in Nepal has surged to nearly 700 from just 100 in the early 1970s, largely due to effective conservation efforts. However, this success has led to rising incidents of human-wildlife conflict, with 11 fatalities reported in 2024 alone, including eight from rhino attacks. Doma Paudel, the first female trail guide in Nepal, is actively working to educate communities about coexistence strategies, particularly targeting women and children who are often most at risk. Local farmers, like Balkrishna Bhattarai, have begun to experience more frequent rhino visits to their fields, leading to dangerous encounters. The tragic stories of individuals like Ashok Bhattarai, who was killed while trying to chase a rhino from his crops, highlight the urgent need for community education and safety measures. As human populations grow and wildlife numbers increase, Nepal is learning to navigate the complexities of coexistence with its megafauna.
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The increase in rhino populations is leading to more frequent and dangerous encounters, affecting local farmers and their livelihoods.
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