Human-Tiger Conflict Threatenning the Existence of Each other in the Sundarban, Biosphere Reserve

Abstract

Sundarban of West Bengal, India is the largest mangrove forest in the world with high biodiversity vlaue. This kittoral forest is the only ecological habitat of the tiger in the world, except in Bangladesh. Sundarban Reserve Forest has been suffering from human-tiger conflict (HTC) - a very serious public health issue. It is a continued concern for the significant mortality of both human and tiger population. People living in the vicinity of this forest are heavily dependent on its resources for their livelihood. While being alive they suffer from the fear of being killed by a tiger whereas aftermath of the incident exposes their family to the trauma of social rejection, discrimination and deprivation, which is an outcome of cultural stigma related to being killed by a tiger. This ecopsychosocial pressure on human poses threat to the tiger population. The present article describes the issues arising due to the conflict and aims to bring awareness and immediate concern for management of both the counter parts involved in the conflict.