Conservationists estimate that there are now 235 wild Bengal tigers in Nepal – nearly double the numbers from 2009.
The country’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) unveiled the statistics this week after conducting its National Tiger Survey over several months using surveillance cameras.
Nepal has pledged to increase the number of tigers up to 250 by 2022 – the next year of the tiger in the Chinese zodiac.
Camera trap image of a tiger from Chitwan National Park in Nepal. Source: © DNPWC/WWF Nepal
The pledge came after a meeting in 2010 of The Global Tiger Initiative – organised by the World Bank and with the support of Nepal and around 12 other countries home to the threatened tiger.
“We analysed around 4,000 pictures of tigers and found out that 209 of them did not match with the others. Upon analysing these statistics, we concluded that there are between 221-274 tigers in Nepal. Thus we assumed that there are currently 235 tigers in the country,” Man Bahadur Thapa, Director General of the DNPWC told SBS Nepali.
There were 121 tigers in 2008/9, and now officials say they are close to reaching the target.
Tigers are found in Chitwan National Park, Shuklapantha National Park, Bardiya National Park, Parsa National Park and Banke National Park.
Chitwan National Park has the highest number of tigers (93) followed by Bardiya (78), according to officials. However, officials say the number of tigers in Chitwan has actually decreased recently.
Nepal has pledged to increase the number of tigers up to 250 by 2022 – the next year of the tiger in the Chinese zodiac
“Due to the flood, last year number of tigers has decreased in Chitwan National Park. There are 27 fewer tigers in Chitwan National Park now,’’ said Man Bahadur Thapa.
Nepal has recently changed some of its policies which have helped achieve the targets.
“Nepal deployed the army in the core areas of wildlife conservation trusts to protect wildlife and also added Bardiya National Park as a tiger bearing protected area after pledging to protect tigers; they’re some of the factors that helped to get the desired numbers of the big cats,’’ said tiger biologist Kanchan Thapa.
Nepal has recently changed some of its policies which has helped achieve the targets. Source: © DNPWC/WWF Nepal
However rapid urbanisation could create a threat to tigers, warn conservation experts.
“We have to be careful that we do not disturb the habitat of the wild lives when we plan roadway, railway and airport expansions,’’ said Kanchan.
Threats
Illegal poaching is a major threat to tigers, poached for their skin and also body parts which are used in traditional medicine. Humans are considered tigers' most significant predator, but prey depletion and loss of habitat also threaten their survival.
According to WWF Nepal, of nine tiger subspecies (Bengal, Siberian, Indochinese, South Chinese, Sumatran, Malayan, Caspian, Javan and Bali) three are already extinct (Caspian, Javan, Bali).
Britain's Prince Edward hunting tigers in Nepal in 1876. Source: AAP
Bengal tiger
The Bengal tiger is the most common subspecies of tiger, comprising around 80 per cent of the world's total tiger population.
Efforts to promote tiger conservation are being supported by international organisations including WWF and the WWF-US board member Leonardo DiCaprio, whose Foundation is supporting key tiger habitat projects in Nepal.
According to the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, current tallies of tiger populations are as follows:
• Bangladesh: 106 • Bhutan: 103 • Cambodia: 0 • China: 7+ • India: 2,226 • Indonesia: 371 • Laos: 2 • Malaysia: 250 • Myanmar: previously 85 (not included as data is outdated) • Nepal: 198 • Russia: 433 • Thailand: 189 • Vietnam: under 5 Source: SBS Nepali
