GIS-Assisted Prediction and Risk Zonation of Wildlife Attacks in the Chitwan National Park in Nepal

A study of wildlife attacks in Chitwan National Park, Nepal, between 2003 and 2013 revealed that the riskiest areas for human-wildlife conflicts are locations near the park's forest edges, particularly those covered by agricultural land and inhabited by humans. The research found that 89% of attacks occurred outside the park, with 74% happening in buffer zone forests and croplands within 1 km from the park. While most animals had a maximum of one victim per 4 km², bear victims were concentrated where tiger and rhino victims were lower, such as in the Madi valley. The study used kernel density calculations and land use groups to identify five risk zones, providing valuable insights for local spatial decision-making to improve coexistence between natural protection efforts and human safety.

Ruda, A., Kolejka, J., & Silwal, T. (2018). GIS-Assisted Prediction and Risk Zonation of Wildlife Attacks in the Chitwan National Park in Nepal. ISPRS International Journal of Geo-Information, 7(9), 369. https://doi.org/10.3390/ijgi7090369