People, Animals and Escalating Tensions: the case of Bardiya National Park (BNP)

The Bardiya National Park (BNP), established between 1988 and 1989 in southwestern Nepal (Tarai), is facing more and more challenges. The human population, consisting of various Tharu groups (mainly Desauri, Deukhuri and Dangaura) and castes (Brahmin, Chet Untouchables) is increasing along with endangered and potentially dangerous animals: tigers (Panthera tigris), leopards (Panthera pardus), Asian elephants (Elephas maximus), Indian rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis), various snakes (mainly Russell's viper, tri, king cobra, and krait) or crocodiles (Gavialis gangeticus or Crocodylus palustris). The area of the Park (968 sq.km) remains the same, although it is linked with Banke and some animals migrate to India. Due to issues of resource use, space and other reaso ns, attacks on humans, livestock or destruction of crops and houses have become a daily reality. Pandemic, floods, recent constructions, NGO’s intervention and tourism (made essential but still unstable), have added further difficulties to what many call "Human-Wildlife Conflicts" (HWC). This study is based on a first three-month fieldwork in Bardiya at the level of Shivapur-Hattisar village during summer 2019 as part of an anthropology thesis (UCLouvain, Belgium), as well as on six further months of study in the same place, from August 2021 to January 2022, as part of a PhD in anthropology (EHESS France - ULiège Belgium). The aim of this presentation is to expose current tensions in this area, both between animals and humans, but also between humans: tensions about borders, territories, as well as relationships and emotions.