The Contradiction of Conservation: Testimonies of the Human Cost of India’s Similipal Tiger Reserve.
The Similipal Tiger Reserve in India is a place of stark contradiction. Celebrated for its breathtaking landscape and status as a UNESCO Biosphere Reserve, it has long been a source of national pride as a sanctuary for the tiger. India’s tiger reserves are often considered a global success story in conservation. Yet, beneath this public image lies a tragic and ongoing conflict: the forced eviction of Indigenous Peoples from their ancestral lands. According to our research, submitted to various UN human rights bodies, an estimated 600,000 tribal people across the nation are at immediate risk of being displaced in the name of tiger conservation. See our reports.
A Story of Forced Eviction and Loss
The tribal Munda community of Jamunagarh, along with many others, serves as a powerful and painful example of this reality. In 2015, the village of Jamunagarh was relocated. The relocation, carried out under the guidelines of the National Tiger Conservation Authority, was described by the tribals as forced. We met with several Munda, who had resisted until the very end, enduring intimidation and pressure until being finally compelled to leave. From a life intertwined with the forest, they were moved to a barren land in resettlement colonies, enduring suffocating heat and immense hardship. The interviews took place during the relentless midday sun, with temperatures exceeding 50 degrees Celsius.
The psychological and cultural trauma of this displacement is profound. The elder Ramrai shared a heart-wrenching testimony, stating that “many among us have died of grief.” This sentiment was echoed by another community member, Parwati, a young mother, who poignantly argues, "the truth is animals are not safe without us in the forest.” These pleas highlight the injustice of a system where animals are favored over human rights, leaving no space for the people who have coexisted with wildlife for generations. Such testimonies directly challenge the dominant perception that these communities and wildlife cannot live together.
The lack of consultation with Indigenous Peoples is a key factor in these violations. According to the Indian Forest Rights Act, the villagers’ consent needs to be obtained and their claims to their forest land processed before such resettlements can go ahead. However, these legal rights are often ignored. Instead, communities are worn down with relentless harassment and false promises of money, food, livestock, and land—most of which never materializes.
Resisting in an "Open Jail"
While many were forced out, the tragic narrative of Similipal is also one of unwavering resistance. Today, two villages—Kabatghai and Bakhua—still stand in the core area of the reserve. We managed to meet up discreetly with various tribal leaders, who described their reality as living in an “open jail.” They face constant pressure and harassment from the Forest Department, wildlife NGOs, and local administration, who are determined to clear the core area.
One of these leaders, Mahanti Surin, a Ho tribal from Bakhua, shares how they lived there long before the creation of the tiger reserve and how their indigenous knowledge is what permits the forest and wildlife to thrive, yet they are unjustly blamed for its destruction.
This resistance is not just an act of defiance but serves as a reminder of the need for an alternative model of conservation. Research supports the forest rights of Indigenous Peoples, arguing that providing them tenurial rights actually helps in biodiversity conservation and supports the local economy. The argument that wildlife vanishes from the forests where Indigenous communities live is simply not backed by solid research.
As the Similipal Tiger Reserve continues to expand its core area, the fate of these remaining communities hangs in the balance. Their struggle highlights a critical lesson: that genuine conservation must be rooted in collaboration, respect for human rights, and the recognition that Indigenous Peoples are not an obstacle to nature’s preservation, but its most dedicated stewards. The fight in Similipal is a fight for the right to exist, for cultural identity, and ultimately, for a more just and effective model of conservation.