Kathmandu - Tigers in Nepal have started moving around by night and remaining dormant during the day to avoid humans, a study published by the National Academy of Sciences said.
The study conducted in Chitwan National Park showed that tigers had been using the same trails in the forests used by humans, but by night.
Research conducted in 2010-11 used more than 75 camera traps, assisted by scientists from Michigan State University in the United States.
“Tigers need resources, people need the same resources,” said Neil Carter, one of the researchers.
“If we operate under the traditional wisdom that tigers only can survive with space dedicated solely for them, there would always be conflict,” he said. “In Chitwan, tigers seem to be adapting to make it work.”
The Chitwan National Park forest is busy with villagers who live on the outskirts of it, forest patrol teams and tourists.
“There appears to be a middle ground where you might actually be able to protect the species at high densities and give people access to forest goods they need to live,” Carter said.
“If that's the case, then this can happen in other places, and the future of tigers is much brighter than it would be otherwise.”
The big cats are an endangered species. Official statistics say there are 121 adult tigers in Chitwan National Park. - Sapa-dpa