Why in news?
A tragic incident in November 2025 brought the Pilibhit Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh into focus when a local farmer was killed by a tiger near the reserve’s Barahi range. The attack prompted protests by villagers and highlighted the growing tension between wildlife conservation and human livelihoods in the area.
Background
Established in 2014, Pilibhit Tiger Reserve occupies approximately 730 square kilometres across the districts of Pilibhit and Shahjahanpur along the India–‑Nebal border. It forms part of the Terai Arc Landscape, a mosaic of grasslands, swamps and sal forests that stretches along the foothills of the Himalaya. The reserve’s core zone covers about 602 km², while the rest is a buffer zone comprising farmland and villages.
Geography and ecology
- Hydrography: Several rivers originate or flow through the reserve. The Gomti River rises here, while the Sharda, Chuka, Mala and Kanchan rivers create fertile floodplains and wetlands.
- Vegetation: Tropical moist deciduous and swamp forests dominate, with extensive grasslands and dense sal (Shorea robusta) stands making up about three‑quarters of the forest area.
- Wildlife: Besides the Bengal tiger, the reserve hosts swamp deer, hog deer, sambar, leopards, sloth bears and over 300 species of birds, including the endangered Bengal florican.
- Climate: The region experiences a hot summer, a monsoon season and a cool winter, with rainfall influencing the availability of prey and water.
Human–wildlife conflict
- Proximity of villages: Farmlands and settlements lie close to the core zone. People often enter forest areas to collect firewood or graze cattle, increasing encounters with tigers.
- Dispersing animals: As tiger numbers recover, young animals venture outside the reserve in search of territory. Inadequate prey in buffer areas leads to attacks on livestock.
- Mitigation measures: Authorities have installed camera traps, built solar‑powered fences and offered compensation to victims’ families. Plans include creating more meadows and relocating stray tigers to larger reserves.
Significance
- Conservation success: Pilibhit has one of the highest tiger densities in India. Effective management is essential to sustain this success without causing hardship to local people.
- Corridor connectivity: The reserve forms a vital link in the Terai landscape, allowing tigers to move between India and Nepal. Protecting this corridor helps maintain genetic diversity.
- Community engagement: Long‑term solutions must involve local communities through education, alternative livelihoods and participatory conservation.
Sources: Times of India, WWF India