Between 2020 and 2024, more than 580 livestock were killed by tigers in Trongsa, 360 cases in Nubi gewog alone

Lhakpa Quendren

Trongsa—Surrounded by thick forests and towering mountains, Mangdiphu village, Nubi gewog, in north of Trongsa is an idyllic rural settlement—almost picture perfect. But in the serene jungles prowls a tiger that launches sporadic attacks on livestock, leaving villagers grappling with mounting losses.

Just two months ago, 83-year-old Nimchu lost twin calves to a tiger attack, taking the livestock toll to six between July and September of this year.

Across Mangdiphu, Jongthang, and Semji villages, nearly every household displays dried cattle hides on the walls of their cowsheds—grim reminders of the ongoing conflict.

Dried cattle hides on the walls of cowsheds in Mangdiphu

“A tiger would kill two cattle at once,” Nimchu says, pointing to the dried skins of his lost livestock hanging on the walls of the cowshed. “My son’s milking cow died two days after being mauled on the rear end by a tiger.”

Once a proud owner of 40 cattle, he now has only eight.  “I saw three tigers, including a cub, when I was herding cattle in my 30s. Since then, I have never seen one, although many cattle have continued to be killed by tigers,” he says.

Growing threat to livelihoods

The encroachment of tigers into the villages has heightened fears among residents. Sonam Lhamo, Nimchu’s daughter, worries for her family’s safety. “At least two cattle are killed every month. We see tiger pug marks  on the path in the morning. I fear they might come to our homes one day.”

Fifty-year-old Tawmo from Jongthang says that they live in constant fear, and even during the day, they have to keep a close watch over their cattle. “In the past, incidents only occurred in the forest, but now they happen in the villages as we herd the cattle in the fields.”

Kuenzang Norbu, another villager, recalls neighbours encountering tigers while traveling at night. “It is too risky to guard crops or walk alone after dark,” he says.

Many residents no longer rear cattle. And those who do keep the productive cows near their homes. Unproductive cattle, mostly oxen grazing in the open fields, often fall prey to tigers.

Kuenzang Norbu has lost seven oxen in three years. “Raising oxen now feels like raising them for the tigers,” he laments.

The attacks are not confined to forests or remote pastures. Recently, two oxen were killed in the terraced fields. And on December 30, Kuenzang Pema Yangden lost her milking cow to a tiger while herding cattle in the field below their village. The next day, two oxen belonging to her neighbour were killed in the same field during daylight.

“I was inside the cowshed for a while, and then I heard the other cattle bawling. By the time I came out, my cow had already been attacked and killed. It was the first time a milking cow had been killed in the field,” she says.

She received Nu 3,000 for each of the two insured cattle— a fraction of her losses.

A month ago, a tiger entered the Yalaypang pasture above their village and killed an ox.

The community-based pasture, covering 55 acres for local farming communities, was developed by the government with support from global agencies. Over 100 cattle from 23 households graze in this pasture.

Villages near protected areas, such as Wangchuck Centennial Park, are grappling with escalating human-wildlife conflict. Between 2020 and 2024, over 580 livestock were killed by tigers in Trongsa, with more than 360 cases in Nubi gewog alone.

Jongthang village in Nubi Gewog

Wangchuck Centennial Park is home to endangered species such as tigers, leopards, Himalayan black bears, and wild dogs, all classified as endangered or vulnerable.

In areas like Karshong and Kongling, the threat has shifted from tigers to wolves, adding another layer of hardship.

Zeko, a 58-year-old resident of Karshong, says she no longer raises oxen, relying instead on mechanised tillers. “It’s not worth the risk anymore,” she says.

In Kongling, tiger predation is more frequent in the forests during the summer. “Tigers do not come into human settlements, which is why we keep the cattle in the fields,” said Gesar Penjore, a local resident.

Balancing conservation and livelihoods

While Bhutan’s tiger population has grown from 103 in 2015 to 131 in 2023, residents argue that conservation efforts disproportionately prioritise wildlife over their livelihoods.

The government’s conservation budget, supported by international agencies, funds training, workshops, and tours for officials, but the real victims—the villagers—continue to bear the losses.

“Most of us depend on farming and livestock to sustain our livelihoods. Our livestock is just as important as wildlife, if not more,” a resident said. “If conservation is important, the government should come up with sustainable solutions for our livestock losses, or the conservation budget should benefit the victims.”

Farmers are encouraged to insure their livestock for Nu 200 annually per cattle. In the event of a predator attack, they receive Nu 3,000 per animal as compensation.

Meanwhile, the villagers are still waiting for livestock officials to attach the insurance identification tags to the cattle that were recently registered.