India's Tiger Success Brings New Challenge: Living Alongside Big Cats

In southern India's Karnataka state, a tiger's attack on a farmer has left him severely injured and dependent on his wife. This incident highlights the growing challenge of coexisting with tigers in areas where their habitats overlap with human settlements. The Bandipur Tiger Reserve, home to 154-175 tigers, is a key area where this challenge is being felt. Farmers in villages near the reserve, such as Badagalapura, regularly report tiger encounters, with some resulting in fatal outcomes. The forest department considers these areas a "tiger landscape," where tigers have been present for centuries and constantly move through. The increasing number of tiger encounters is a consequence of the country's successful tiger conservation efforts, which have led to a rise in tiger populations.