By Sathvika Krishnan, Poonam Dhanwatey, Harsh Dhanwatey, Prof Andrew Gosler, and Prof Claudio Sillero-Zubiri

Caption: A photo from Tadoba of a Waghoba outside a temple. A Waghoba is a tiger statue that demarcates a human fatality caused by a tiger. These statues are found in abudance around the reserve. This serves as both a poignant reflection of the high levels of human-tiger conflict, but also a reminder of the intrinsic cultural connection the people of Tadoba have with the Wagh (tiger). Photo credit: Sathvika Krishnan

This Plain Language Summary is published in advance of the paper discussed. Please check back soon for a link to the full paper.

Tigers are amongst the world’s most iconic animals. They help maintain healthy ecosystems, yet they can also pose a serious threat to people through attacks on cattle and, sometimes, humans. Around the Tadoba-Andhari Tiger Reserve in central India, where these conflicts are common, tigers are not only feared but also deeply respected. In the Hindu-influenced Gond tradition practiced by the people there, tigers hold important cultural and spiritual significance. This makes Tadoba a fascinating place to explore how religious beliefs shape the way people live alongside a dangerous predator.

To investigate this, I surveyed 134 adults from 17 villages surrounding the reserve. I asked about their religious beliefs, their views of tigers, and how they would respond to the risk of encountering one.

I found that religion plays an important role in shaping attitudes towards tigers. People who considered themselves more religious were more likely to value wildlife for its own sake and express greater care for animals. I also uncovered a surprising finding. Some participants believed that a divine power could protect them and their livestock from tiger attacks. Rather than making them less cautious, this belief was linked to lower perceptions of risk while also encouraging practical behaviours that reduced the likelihood of conflict.

This is the first quantitative study in central India to examine how religious beliefs influence attitudes towards a high-conflict species. My findings show that conservation cannot be conducted within a social vacuum. People’s beliefs, values, and cultural traditions influence how they understand to and live alongside wildlife. By recognising and working with these local perspectives, conservation programmes can better support long-term coexistence between people and tigers.