Tigers, often revered as the "King of the jungle", face significant threats due to habitat loss, poaching and human wildlife conflict. While traditional conservation methods have laid the foundation for protecting these majestic creatures, innovative strategies are now essential to address the complex challenges of the modern world.

In recent years, tiger conservation in Nepal is marked by a remarkable increase in its population. The number of tigers has nearly tripled from 121 individuals in 2010 to 355 by 2022, fulfilling the country's commitment made in 2010 during the first tiger summit in Russia. However, these achievements have introduced new challenges that must be addressed to ensure the continued survival of this majestic species. The primary challenges include human wildlife conflict, habitat fragmentation, poaching and illegal trade, climate change, and resource limitations.

Human-wildlife conflict is one of the primary challenges in human tiger coexistence, with competition for space and resources being a key issue. When forests are cleared for agriculture and settlements, tigers lose their habitats and are forced into closer proximity with human populations. Villages, agricultural fields and grazing lands often border or even overlap with tiger habitats, resulting in livestock predation. Human safety is also threatened. Over the past five years, more than 10 people have been attacked by tigers annually in Nepal.

As Nepal continues to develop, deforestation and land conversion for agriculture, infrastructure and settlements have intensified. This leads to the fragmentation of tiger habitats, making it difficult for tigers to roam freely, hunt and find mates. Despite rigorous conservation measures, poaching and illegal trade in tiger parts continue to pose a substantial threat. Strengthening law enforcement, enhancing community-based monitoring and increasing international cooperation are crucial steps in combating this threat.

Climate change presents another layer of complexity to tiger conservation. Changes in temperature and precipitation patterns can alter the availability of prey species and the quality of tiger habitats.

Resource limitations hamper effective conservation efforts. Adequate funding and trained human resources are essential for monitoring tiger populations, conducting research, enforcing laws and engaging local communities.

Innovative strategy and technologies thus play a fundamental role in modern tiger conservation, providing new methods to monitor, protect and study the tiger population.

Camera traps and drones are instrumental in monitoring tiger populations and detecting poaching activities. GPS collar tracking provides precise data on tiger movements, habitat use and behaviour. Using this technology reported a 25 per cent reduction in human tiger conflicts in areas where tigers were tracked using GPS collars, as conservationists could predict and manage potential conflict zones. Similarly, implementing artificial intelligence (AI) and machine learning may improve the detection of poaching activities in real time.

Engaging local communities is crucial for the success of tiger conservation efforts. Institutionalising the formation and training of RRTs can ensure a swift and effective response to conflicts. These teams should be equipped with the necessary tools for safe and humane capture and relocation of problem tigers.

Maintaining and restoration of tiger habitats is essential for their survival. Innovative habitat management practices ensure tigers have the space and resources they need to thrive. Creating and maintaining corridors that connect fragmented habitats allows tigers to move safely between protected areas and reduce conflict. Installing smart fencing with sensors and alarms prevents tigers from straying into human settlements while allowing other wildlife to pass through unharmed.

Strong policies and advocacy efforts are essential for creating a supportive environment for both tigers and humans. Trans boundary conservation and collaboration between neighbouring countries to protect tigers that roam across boards is crucial. Enforcing strict anti-poaching laws and regulations against illegal wildlife trade is critical for tiger conservation.

Implementing early warning systems is another vital component. By equipping problem or suspected tigers with GPS or satellite collars and establishing alert systems, communities can be notified of tiger movements in real time.

Strengthening the emergency response compensation/relief schemes and insurance schemes is necessary to address the economic impacts of tiger predation. Developing fair immediate relief and compensation mechanisms for livestock losses and crop damage will alleviate financial burdens on affected communities.

Community involvement is crucial for the success of conservation efforts. Integrating conservation education into the school curricula and conducting community workshops can raise awareness about tiger behaviour, the importance of conservation and conflict prevention strategies.

Supporting the development of alternative livelihoods is another key strategy. By promoting eco-tourism, organic farming and handicrafts, communities can generate income without encroaching on tiger habitats. Financial reward and recognition for successful conservation practices can motivate communities to actively engage in reducing human tiger conflicts.

Sustainable development policies are essential for balancing human needs with wildlife conservation. Integrating wildlife conservation into national and regional land use planning ensures that development projects consider the impacts on tiger habitats.

Pokharel is the Director of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and holds a PhD in tiger research