Ranthambore, home to Bengal tigers, faces rising human-wildlife conflict. As tiger numbers grow, territorial pressures push them into nearby villages, creating life-threatening encounters for humans and wildlife.
Ranthambore National Park, nestled at the meeting point of the Aravalli and Vindhya hills, is famous for its Bengal tigers and stunning landscapes. However, growing human-wildlife conflict is threatening the fragile balance in the region. In the last 15 years, tigers have killed nearly 15 people in the area, sparking fear and tension among locals.
Many villages are situated at the park’s periphery, where tigers often wander into farmlands and attack livestock. Residents Monika and Dhiraj recount frequent tiger encounters in and around their farmland, where the boundary between wildlife and human activity often blurs.
Although the government offers compensation, the livelihood of villagers remains constantly at risk. Ranthambore’s tiger population now exceeds 70, leading to territorial fights and pushing tigers beyond park boundaries.
According to forest officials, new natural corridors connecting Ranthambore to the nearby Ramgarh Visdhari Tiger Reserve, RVTR Bundi, and Dholpur-Karauli Tiger Reserve aim to offer tigers safer passage, reducing the pressure on local communities.
However, the recent incident in November 2024, where an angry mob killed a tiger after it fatally attacked a villager, highlights the deep-rooted challenges of human-wildlife conflict. While NGOs like Prakratik Society and Tiger Watch are working to mitigate these issues, the broader challenge remains—finding a sustainable solution that ensures both tiger conservation and the safety of local communities.
The thumbnail shows a portrait of a Bengal tiger in Ranthambore National Park.
Aakriti Dhawan is an Indian journalist working between Germany and India, covering stories across Europe and South Asia with a focus on finance, gender, politics, and cross-border media.
