KATHMANDU, Nepal–The government has reiterated its commitment to carry out proactive measures to double the tigers’ population by 2022.
While observing the International Tiger Day, the government repeated its commitment to double the tigers’ numbers after eight years.
On the occasion, Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) Mahesh Acharya expressed confidence that the Himalayan nation would be able to attain its target given the present increasing trend of wild tigers.
In 2010, Nepal had signed the ‘St Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation’ to express commitment to double the number of wild tigers from 121 to 250 by 2022.
A report titled Status of Tigers and Prey in Nepal, 2013, the total tiger population in Nepal was estimated to have increased from 121 in 2010 to 198 in 2013.
Aiming to double the number of wild tigers by 2022, the government has been implementing the National Tiger Recovery Programme.
Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, (DNPWC) in coordination with MoFSC, security agencies and partner organisations have escalated efforts in the central and local levels to increase tiger population.
Habitat restoration, control of poaching and illegal wildlife trade, and engagement of local communities in conservation have yielded positive results towards increasing the tiger numbers.
According to WWF Nepal, tigers are found in the Tarai Arc Landscape stretching 600 miles across 15 protected area networks in Nepal and India.
Of the total tigers found in the country, 120 are in Chitwan National Park, 50 in Bardiya National Park, 17 in Sukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve, seven in Parsa Wildlife Reserve and four in Banke National Park, according to government’s data.