Nepal nearly doubles its tiger population

Kathmandu / July 29: As of 2015, the global wild tiger population was estimated to number between 3,062 and 3,948 mature individuals.

There are thirteen countries in the world where tigers are found. They include Bangladesh, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, Bhutan, Thailand, Indonesia, Laos, China, Malaysia, Russia, Myanmar, and Nepal.

At present, only six breeds of tiger are found while three have already been extinct.

Indo-Chinese, Malaysian, Sumatran, South-Chinese, Siberian and Royal Bengal breeds of tiger still survive while its Bali, Caspian, and Javan breeds went extinct in the past.

The 2010 Global Conference held in St Petersburg, Russia had expressed a strong commitment to doubling the population of tigers in 13 countries by 2022. In 2010, Nepal had also pledged to increase the tiger’s population from 121 to 250.

According to the survey conducted in 2013, there are 235 tigers in Nepal. To accomplish the goal of doubling the number of tigers, we only require 15 more.

Nepal has been celebrating the Tiger Day since 2067 BS. It has also been conducting tiger census at a national level since that time.

The census of tigers is carried out every four years. Camera traps, centro-compass, range finders and GPS record forms are used while counting the number of tigers.

Many national and international agencies are helping for the conservation of tigers in Nepal. Nepal Army, Nepal Police and Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) are collectively involved for the conservation and protection of tigers in Nepal.

According to the data and numbers, International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) has listed tiger as an endangered species in its red book.

Meanwhile, Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) has prohibited the illegal trade of tigers in its appendix section-1.

According to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, anyone involved in illegal trade of wildlife are sentenced to jail term for 5-15 years and are fined the amount that ranges between Rs. 50,000 and Rs. 75,000.

While earlier International Tiger Days were only limited to small rooms, this year the Ministry of Forest and Environment is observing it in Banke National Park as per the plan to organize a central event nearby the habitat of tigers.