Chitwan, Sept. 3 -- When Sudiksha Kumal of Meghauli first thought about becoming a nature guide in Chitwan, her parents were surprised. No one in her farming family had ever worked in tourism. But Sudiksha insisted.

Sudiksha, who grew up watching rhinos trample crops and tigers prey on cattle near her village in Meghauli, which lies in ward 28 of Bharatpur Metropolis, wanted something different.

"I once thought wild animals only brought problems to us. But living so close to the jungle also made me curious. I wanted to understand it better-and show others what we have," said Sudiksha, who is in her mid-twenties.

Sudiksha's chance came after her plans to study abroad fell through. Inspired by her cousin Mina, a trekking guide in a Kathm...