In Banke, the hunt for man-eater tigers grew more intense
Installing cameras in community forests has stepped up the search for a tiger that killed a woman in Banke. The Sub-Division Forest Office increased search efforts in the area after a tiger killed Cheti Budha, 67, of Rapti Sonari Rural Municipality-8, on January 22, 2025, in Bhagawati Community Forest. The residents are afraid that the tiger will attack them, according to the Sub-Division Forest Office in Rapti Sonari, Banke. Following an increase in the number of predators, including tigers and leopards, cameras have been placed in the Bhagawati Community Forest area, according to the chief of the Sub-Division Forest Office. The purpose of the camera installation is to track down the animal that killed Budha and allay locals’ fears.
Sharma also advised locals living close to the national park to exercise caution and vigilance in case of tigers. The cameras will give precise information about the tiger’s location, he continued. Cameras have been placed in the forest where the attack took place, according to Tika Ram Oli, chairperson of the Bhagwati Community Forest. He added that there are ongoing awareness campaigns to assist residents in avoiding encounters with wild animals. Although tigers had not been observed in the forest before, locals reported seeing antelopes, deer, and wild boars frequently. According to reports, the tiger had previously killed about ten goats. Banke National Park and its buffer zone are close to the Bhagawati Community Forest. The government of Nepal created Banke National Park, the country’s newest national park, to conserve tigers.
