Rising reptile encounters deepen human–wildlife conflict around the national park.

Buffer zone communities around Chitwan National Park are increasingly facing encounters not only with tigers, elephants, and rhinos but also with a growing number of crocodiles and pythons. The shift has intensified human–wildlife conflict in riverside settlements, where residents are reporting unprecedented incidents involving large reptiles entering homes, livestock sheds, and village courtyards.

In the last five months alone, the park recorded 199 animal rescues, of which 129 involved mugger crocodiles, signalling a sharp rise in reptile movement toward human habitation. Pythons accounted for another 52 cases, with several additional rescues involving king cobras, rat snakes, turtles, and other wildlife. These numbers suggest a changed landscape where reptiles now constitute the majority of emergency wildlife interventions.

The threat became visibly alarming when a full-grown mugger crocodile wandered into a home in Ratnanagar Municipality after crawling up from the nearby Rapti River. The animal reached the sleeping area of a family before retreating back toward the river. Such incidents have left residents fearful and uncertain about safety, particularly during nighttime hours when most reptile encounters occur.

For decades, communities around Chitwan National Park have coped with elephants breaking house walls, rhinos raiding crops, tigers attacking livestock, and deer, monkeys, and wild boars damaging fields. The recent escalation in reptile intrusions adds a new layer of risk to daily life. Mugger crocodiles—unlike the shy, critically endangered gharials—are adaptable and opportunistic, thriving in rivers, lakes, ponds, wetlands, and even fish farms. Their ability to travel several kilometres overland has resulted in frequent sightings far from the water’s edge.

Rescuing crocodiles remains one of the park’s most challenging tasks. The process requires specialised equipment, trained personnel, and quick coordination, as muggers often slip away before teams arrive. Pythons, though easier to handle, are frequently found wrapped around poultry in village sheds, indicating an increased overlap between wildlife movement corridors and human settlements.

Experts attribute the rise in reptile encounters to a combination of ecological and human-driven factors. Expanding settlements, rapid tourism infrastructure development, riverbank erosion, seasonal flooding, and the loss of wetlands have constricted natural habitats. At the same time, improved conservation and reduced poaching have allowed wildlife populations to rebound, resulting in more frequent contact between animals and people.

The changing patterns of reptile movement have also led to safety concerns near rivers, where unexpected crocodile encounters have occasionally resulted in injuries or fatalities. Residents who rely on rivers for daily activities such as collecting water, fishing, or crossing to fields are increasingly vulnerable.

The psychological toll on communities is significant. Families now report sleeping lightly, monitoring sounds outside their homes, and modifying daily routines out of fear that crocodiles or pythons might enter their premises again. Women, children, and elderly residents living close to riverbanks are particularly affected.

With reptile rescues rising sharply, authorities emphasise the need for community awareness alongside technical capacity. Clear guidelines on how to avoid confrontations, secure livestock enclosures, and report sightings promptly are becoming essential for reducing risks.

As human settlements expand and wildlife continues to reclaim ecological space, the buffer zone surrounding Chitwan National Park is emerging as a frontline of growing human–reptile conflict—one that now demands sustained attention, preparedness, and coordinated response.