How Nepal managed to double the population of Tigers!!!!!

 Bengal Tigers  (Panthera tigris tigris) 

          Also known as Asian big cats, they are considered as the most recognizable and popular of the world’s charismatic megafauna. They are the most numerous tiger subspecies with its remaining wild population estimated at around 3,000.

The Bengal tiger roams a wide range of habitats including high altitude, tropical and subtropical rainforests, mangroves and grasslands. They are primarily found in parts of Nepal, India, Bhutan and Bangladesh.

They are listed as endangered on the IUCN Red List of threatened species.

 Bengal Tigers in Nepal

They roam mostly in the Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal. Five protected Areas namely, Parsa National Park, Chitwan National Park, Banke National Park, Bardiya National Park and Shuklaphanta National Park harbor tiger populations.

Tiger population and habitat occupancy across Terai Arc Landscape (TAL), Nepal

The tiger census of 1995/96 estimated a total of 93-97 breeding adult tigers in Nepal, with 48-49 in Chitwan NP, 30-32 in Bardiya NP, and 15-16 in Shuklaphanta WR. In 1999/2000, the tiger population was estimated at 98 to 123 breeeding adults, indicating some growth.

The past tiger estimates were based largely on pugmark projection methods, which have been proven to be unreliable surveys. But starting from 2009, the tiger estimates have been based on standardized, science-based methods that use systematic camera trapping and transect surveys.

The surveys conducted from 2009 onwards show an increase in tiger numbers in most of the protected areas, for a total population increase from 121 in 2009, 198 in 2013 to 235 in 2018.

  

Location	2009	2013	2018
Parsa NP	4	7	18
Chitwan NP	91	120	93
Banke NP	0	4	21
Bardiya NP	18	50	87
Shuklaphanta NP	8	17	16
Total	121	198	235

 

Tiger Conservation: Reasons Behind Nepal’s success

·       First tiger conservation initiative could be traced back to 1972, when the government of Nepal, WWF-US and the Smithsonian institute jointly landed the Tiger Ecology Project in Chitwan.

This project raised the issue of importance of tiger conservation along with the need to secure its prey base and natural habitat.

·       In June 2010, to curb illegal trade on wildlife species, Government of Nepal constituted a high-level National Tiger Conservation Committee (NTCC). The Government has also formed a National Wildlife Crime Control Coordination Committee (NWCCCC). Similarly, Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) has been formed to effectively mobilize available expertise and resources to combat wildlife crime in the country.

·       The Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation signed a Memorandum of Understanding with China in 2010 to promote biodiversity conservation and curb the illegal wildlife trade and a resolution of transboundary cooperation with India is renewed on annual basis.

·       The Nepal Army situated in National Park and Wildlife Reserve is deputed to the protection of tiger bearing protected areas for certain periods. Specific engagement of designated focal persons from the Nepal Army has to be updated with the functioning of real time SMART patrolling and anti-poaching operations including community based actions on a regular basis.

·       Similarly, buffer zone and community forest officials and other local communities has been provided various skills enhancement training for sustaining their livelihoods so that positive attitude towards tiger conservation will be expected to increase.

·       Management of grasslands and wetlands that are vital for tiger and its prey species.

 At the World tiger Summit in 2010 in St. Petersburg, Nepal with other 12 tiger range countries have joined hands to save the tigers from their decline by putting efforts in their conservation to double the national population by 2022.         

Tiger conservation is matter of national priority and pride of Nepal. With 94% increase in the tiger population since 2009, Nepal’s tiger conservation program has been deemed as success indicating that Nepal is on track to achieve its national Tx2 goal by 2022.                                       Reference: Tiger Conservation Plan for Nepal, Wikipedia