Figure 1: Problem tiger attacking technicians trying to dart and capture it
Early morning along the Narayani River in Beltandi, near the town of Bharatpur, a tiger attacked a man. The Nepal Tiger Trust technicians assisted with pugmark identification, while Chitwan National Park authorities used a drone to track the tiger. Later that same day, a technician from the National Trust for Nature Conservation darted the tiger. After checking its physical condition, the tiger was released back into the Park the following day.
Figure 2: Local people, police, and park authorities near incident sites
On August 4, 2024, around 5:20 am, a 60-year-old man was attacked by a tiger while on a morning walk near the Narayani River in Beltandi, close to the bustling town of Bharatpur, in Chitwan. Fortunately, the man survived and was taken to a nearby hospital, where his condition was deemed non-life-threatening.
Figure 3: Tiger track found near incident site
Chitwan National Park authorities were promptly notified, and technicians from the Nepal Tiger Trust (Raju Kumal and Ashok Kumal), and the National Trust for Nature Conservation arrived at the scene. They investigated the pugmark size and determined that the responsible animal was a male tiger.
Figure 4: Location of incident site in relation to Chitwan National Park
Figure 5: Close up of incident site shown in Figure 4
Figure 6: White cloth sheath laid as a visual fence for tiger
Given the proximity of the incident site to a densely populated area, the decision was made to capture the tiger. Using pugmark tracking and a drone, they located the tiger in a tall grass patch between the river and the bank. That same night, with the assistance of three domestic elephants, the tiger was darted and immobilized by Tirtha Lama of National Trust for Nature Conservation around 9pm.
Figure 7: Captured tiger inside cage for transportation
Upon examination, the adult male tiger estimated to be 5-6 years old showed no injuries and was in good physical condition. It was temporarily housed in Sauraha overnight and released back into the Chitwan National Park the following day. This collaborative effort highlights how the Nepal Tiger Trust plays a crucial role in mitigating human-tiger conflicts.
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