Despite countless threats to tigers, Nepal’s conservation efforts have seen the country’s tiger population increase by 190 per cent since 2009.
Tigers are faced with many threats. Their population has declined from 100,000 a century ago to just 3,500 today. But despite many challenges, Nepal’s wild tigers have successfully returned from the edge of extinction with a 190 per cent population increase since 2009. According to Nepal’s National Tiger and Prey Survey 2022, there are now 355 wild tigers in the country, compared to 121 in 2010. This amounts to a 190 per cent increase, meaning that the country nearly tripled its tiger population.
Ginette Hemley, senior vice president for wildlife conservation at the World Wildlife Fund, said, “Tigers in Nepal and everywhere else that they live in Asia, about 10 countries, were on a steady decline because of two key reasons. The most immediate reason was illegal hunting for the illegal animal trade. The second reason was loss of habitat.”
To achieve this recovery in tiger numbers, Nepal took strong official action to stop illegal hunting. Another factor in the country’s success was the restoration of corridors to facilitate the safe passage of tigers in protected areas. Hemley said, “Nepal really does stand out as a leader in conservation, especially for tigers... There is support for conservation of tigers at the highest level of government. That has translated into really effective habitat conservation, strengthening the protection of tigers in national parks, the wildlife reserves.”
It’s important to note that the increase in wild tigers has come with an increase in deaths of people living near forest lands. Hopefully we will continue to see a recovery in tiger populations, as well as measures taken to protect local communities.
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