COEXISTING WITH TIGERS: TOOLS AND APPROACHES FOR MANAGING HUMAN–TIGER INTERACTIONS

The document outlines a structured approach to move from human-tiger conflict to coexistence, utilizing the C2C (Conflict to Coexistence) methodology. It defines conflict and coexistence as dynamic spectrums influenced by risk, tolerance, and management effectiveness. The report details four key outcomes for monitoring—People, Livelihoods & Assets, Wildlife, and Habitat—and proposes a collaborative decision-making process using the nominal group technique to prioritize interventions. It summarizes 29 interventions, ranging from preventative measures like livestock enclosures and predator alert systems to response strategies like cognitive behavioral therapy, and evaluates their effectiveness based on robust evidence. Additionally, it presents nine monitoring tools and a theoretical framework for policy advocacy to support long-term sustainable management of tiger landscapes.

• Human-tiger conflict and coexistence are not stable states but dynamic relationships existing along spectrums defined by levels of risk and tolerance, connected by management effectiveness.
• The report identifies four interconnected outcomes to monitor for coexistence: People (psychological resilience, tolerance, risk of injury, and governance), Livelihoods & Assets (economic vulnerability), Wildlife (population dynamics and risk of injury), and Habitat (connectivity and quality).
• To prioritize interventions, the report recommends a collaborative decision-making process called the nominal group technique, which uses anonymous ranking and proportional ranked choice voting to ensure democratic and representative outcomes.
• Preventative interventions generally show better evidence of effectiveness than other types; for example, livestock enclosures and fences significantly reduce economic vulnerability from livestock depredation.
• The removal of individual animals involved in conflict is identified as the least effective mitigation intervention and can actually increase the risk of injury or death to people.
• Predator alert systems, including AI-assisted camera traps, have been shown to significantly increase human tolerance and reduce both the risk of injury to people and economic vulnerability.
• Governance based on empirically-derived design principles can significantly increase habitat quality and connectivity and somewhat reduce economic vulnerability.
• Education and outreach campaigns can be highly effective in reducing poaching; in one Thailand case, poaching events declined four-fold following workshops based on social psychology principles.
• The report highlights that the effectiveness of interventions may differ for reintroduced tiger populations because tigers without established home ranges are more likely to be involved in conflict.
• The document provides nine monitoring tools to track progress, including Elinor for governance, SMART and EarthRanger for wildlife and poaching, and Collect Earth Online, ForestWatcher, and Remap for habitat.

APA

Read, D. J., Dahal, S., Jayasinghe, N., & Belecky, M. (2026). COEXISTING WITH TIGERS: TOOLS AND APPROACHES FOR MANAGING HUMAN–TIGER INTERACTIONS. WWF International. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2550/WWF_Coexisting_with_Tigers_-Pages.pdf

Chicago

Read, Daniel J., Smriti Dahal, Nilanga Jayasinghe, and Mike Belecky. COEXISTING WITH TIGERS: TOOLS AND APPROACHES FOR MANAGING HUMAN–TIGER INTERACTIONS. WWF International, 2026. https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2550/WWF_Coexisting_with_Tigers_-Pages.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Read |first1=Daniel J. |last2=Dahal |first2=Smriti |last3=Jayasinghe |first3=Nilanga |last4=Belecky |first4=Mike |title=COEXISTING WITH TIGERS: TOOLS AND APPROACHES FOR MANAGING HUMAN–TIGER INTERACTIONS |publisher=WWF International |date=2026 |url=https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2550/WWF_Coexisting_with_Tigers_-Pages.pdf |access-date=23 October 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{read2026coexisting, author = {Read, Daniel J. and Dahal, Smriti and Jayasinghe, Nilanga and Belecky, Mike}, title = {{COEXISTING WITH TIGERS: TOOLS AND APPROACHES FOR MANAGING HUMAN–TIGER INTERACTIONS}}, institution = {WWF International}, year = {2026}, url = {https://www.worldwildlife.org/documents/2550/WWF_Coexisting_with_Tigers_-Pages.pdf}, urldate = {2026-10-23}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }