Battling to Safeguard the Majestic Tiger: The Inspiring Journey of a Conservationist
Bhadai Tharu, a dedicated conservationist from Khata, Nepal, fearlessly safeguards tigers, even after losing an eye to one Now, he strives to tackle human-wildlife conflict in the region Join his incredible journey
In the Bardiya region of Nepal, situated near the western border with India, Bhadai Tharu was raised hearing captivating stories about tigers.
These majestic creatures were not prevalent in the forests surrounding his dwelling. In the early 1900s, Asia was home to over 100,000 tigers. However, as Tharu reached his formative years during the 1970s, the tiger population had dramatically declined, dwindling to a mere 20% of its former glory.
Despite his parents' constant storytelling, Tharu's fascination with tigers never wavered during his childhood in the forested region where they reigned as kings. Considered almost legendary creatures, the occasional appearance of a tiger in the village was interpreted by Tharu and his fellow villagers as a sign of divine displeasure. Consequently, they established a dedicated place of worship, known as "Madhwa," to honor the tigers as deities. This sacred ritual persists even today, as Tharu himself can attest. As he grew older, Tharu became devoted to safeguarding the tigers' habitats through his involvement in forest conservation.
However, in 2004, Tharu's life took a dark turn when he was attacked by a tiger, resulting in the loss of one of his eyes. This brutal incident left him feeling as though he was being punished.
"I was consumed by anger towards the tiger," he admits. "Internally, rage coursed through me, compelling me to journey back to the jungle and avenge myself against the tiger."
However, as days turned into weeks, Tharu noticed a transformation within himself. "I gradually comprehended that the jungle is the rightful dwelling of tigers, and its attack on me stemmed purely from its apprehension of potential harm to its habitat."
On the day of the attack, approximately 100 to 150 community members were in the forest gathering wood and grass under his supervision as the chairman of the community forests initiative. According to him, people were spread out across the forest, causing the tiger to feel trapped and unable to find a way out. He recalls that the tiger, while frightened, only attacked him and then departed, sparing his life.
Tharu recommitted himself to protecting Nepals tiger populationas well as preventing human-wildlife conflict in the region.
Bhadai Tharu, pictured, was attacked by a tiger and lost his eye in 2004. He works in tiger conservation, reducing human-animal conflict.
Vijay Bedi/CNN
King of the jungle
In the 1980s, the area surrounding Khata's Tharus village was devoid of vegetation, stripped of trees. However, in 2001, the land was entrusted to the nearby communities who depend on the forest for essential resources and livelihood, according to Tharu.
The Khata corridor, also known as the area connecting the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in Uttar Pradesh, India, to Nepal's Bardiya National Park, has seen remarkable growth. Previously spanning 115 hectares, the forest has now expanded to 3,800 hectares. In recognition of this achievement, the Khata corridor received the WWF's Conservation Excellence Award in 2021. Additionally, the restoration of the forest has resulted in the return of wildlife, including the thriving presence of tigers, confirms Tharu.
Situated within the Terai Arc Landscape, a vast region measuring 24,710 square kilometers along the Nepal-India border, Bardiya National Park and the Khata corridor are integral parts of this landscape. The Terai Arc Landscape encompasses six protected areas, encompassing forests and wetlands. Nepal aimed to double its tiger population from 121 to 250 by 2010, but it surpassed this target, with the tiger population tripling to 355, as reported by WWF.
The Khata corridor has made a significant contribution to the conservation of tigers in the region, particularly through its successful crackdown on poaching, leading to the complete eradication of this activity. Umesh Paudel, a researcher from the Bardiya base of the Nepalese non-profit National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), which supports the community forests initiative, confirms this positive impact.
According to Paudel, wildlife typically does not consider such corridors as their permanent habitat. However, prior to the conservation efforts, tigers were rarely captured on camera within the corridor. In the latest tiger census conducted in 2021, it was discovered that four tigers had permanently established their homes in the Khata corridor.
Tracking tigers
According to Paudel, tigers, being territorial animals, require a vast expanse of up to 58 square miles to freely move and explore new habitats. The existence of a corridor has facilitated their unrestricted movement, leading to their flourishing population.
The region is now confronted with a new issue: an escalating conflict between humans and wildlife, as the tiger population continues to grow. Tiger attacks, which were once rare incidents like Tharus in 2004, are now becoming more common. Since 2019, there have been a minimum of 34 fatal attacks on individuals in the Banke and Bardiya National Parks alone. Paudel indicates that approximately 6,000 communities reside in this corridor, which is further exacerbated by a busy highway running through the middle, resulting in additional opportunities for conflict.
Once common across Asia, tigers occupy just 7% of their historic range.
Using camera traps, the NTNC effectively monitors tigers and identifies those that may pose a threat. Paudel explains that, following an attack, tigers frequently return to the scene, providing the team with an opportunity to analyze their behavior patterns and create profiles.
"He recommends capturing these tigers if it is determined that they frequently cause harm to humans. This task is carried out by a team consisting of the Nepalese Army, the National Park office, and NTNC."
In addition to tracking and monitoring the tigers, the NTNC also oversees the local deer population, which is the main prey of the tigers. They ensure that there is an adequate food supply and that the areas of the park, located away from villages, are the most appealing habitats for the deer. "By practicing this approach, we are able to keep the tigers within the national park, thus minimizing conflicts with the local community," Paudel explains.
Furthermore, the establishment of artificial watering holes has played a crucial role in mitigating the concentration of tigers and redirecting their movement away from nearby communities.
Nonetheless, Paudel highlights that the rise in human-wildlife conflicts cannot solely be attributed to the expansion of the tiger population. He expounds on how the encroachment of our community upon wildlife habitats, venture into the forests independently, and disruption of the natural environment have contributed to this issue. Consequently, these disturbances frequently expose individuals to tiger attacks.
According to Paudel, influencing human behavior is easier than changing tigers. As a result, NTNC focuses on community outreach to educate, empower, and prevent attacks. This includes the installation of infrastructure like fences and shelters. Paudel emphasizes the importance of prioritizing community development in order to foster advocacy for tiger conservation.
As human-animal conflicts escalate, Tharu acknowledges that the local communities are delighted by the thriving tiger population. Tigers, being apex predators, play a vital role as keystone species in the forest ecosystem that sustains the neighboring communities' homes, survival, and livelihoods. Tharu states, "Tigers were once endangered, but now they have made a comeback. This is certainly positive news for us."
With the aim of minimizing attacks, Tharu endeavors to educate communities on taking preventive measures. He firmly believes that "every creature has equal rights on this planet."
