Nepal set to release new tiger census data today

Kathmandu, July 29: Nepal is set to release its 5th National Tiger Survey data on July 29 on the occasion of World Tiger Day. 

The new survey data aims to show the new challenges and opportunity for the country which is working on tiger recovery and the transition toward becoming a global model for human-wildlife coexistence, experts said.

While populations in key habitats like the Bardia-Banke complex are still below their scientific carrying capacity, the data will highlight the ongoing challenge of managing human-tiger conflict at forest edges and within biological corridors where young tigers disperse to find new territories. 

Dr. Shyam Kumar Shah, Chief Conservation Officer at the Langtang National Park, who just completed this PhD on Tiger ecology, said that the country has established itself as a global leader in tiger conservation, successfully contributing to the international goal of doubling the tiger population. As the country moves beyond the “recovery stage,” it is now positioning itself as a model for human-wildlife coexistence.

“Recent studies in major habitats like the Chitwan-Parsa and Bardia-Banke complexes indicated that tiger populations have not yet reached the environment's full carrying capacity,” said Shah, who was also a former senior ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

According to Dr. Shah, managing human-tiger conflict is a top priority, as most incidents occur within one kilometer of the forest edge. Conflict levels do not always rise directly with the tiger population; instead, they fluctuate based on how tigers move through the landscape. 

“Young tigers, aged 1.5 to 2 years, naturally leave their mothers to find new territory, often using biological corridors that are under pressure from human activities like cattle grazing and firewood collection. Experts recommend targeted surveillance in these hotspots and the monitoring of ‘problem animals’ to ensure safety,” he said.

He also said that by integrating periodic monitoring, daily surveillance of ‘problem animals,’ and community-based management of forest edges, the country aims to provide a global example of how humans and tigers can share a landscape sustainably.

Human casualties from tiger attacks declining in last two years

Dr. Baburam Lamichhane, a wildlife expert, said Nepal’s success in increasing tiger numbers and securing their habitats could not be considered complete until human casualties caused by tigers were brought down to zero.

“Although the tiger population has not declined, the number of human casualties caused by tigers has decreased in recent years compared to 2021/22,” he said. “However, tragic incidents are still occurring. We cannot consider tiger conservation a success until there are zero human casualties.”

Lamichhane said the focus should now be on maintaining the tiger population at a sustainable level while reducing human-tiger conflict. He said studies showed that less than 5 per cent of tigers were responsible for attacks or other problems involving people. “Therefore, conservation authorities should identify such tigers in time and take appropriate measures to control them rather than treating the entire tiger population as a threat.”

“Not all tigers cause problems for people. Our studies have shown that fewer than 5 per cent of tigers are involved in such incidents,” he said. “Such tigers need to be identified in time and managed appropriately.”

Lamichhane also stressed the need for better forest management and greater awareness among communities living near tiger habitats. He said bushes and other vegetation where tigers can hide should be cleared in forest areas close to settlements, particularly in community forests and buffer zones. Communities should also be informed about tiger behaviour and the situations in which attacks are more likely.

According to Lamichhane, studies have found that some attacks occur when people bend down while working in forests. He urged people to be particularly cautious while carrying out such activities in areas where tigers are present.

He said reducing human-tiger conflict required efforts from both communities and conservation authorities. Better forest management, community awareness and timely management of problem tigers could help reduce attacks even if tiger numbers increase.

Lamichhane also called for stronger economic safeguards for communities affected by wildlife attacks. He said livestock insurance and government relief and compensation programmes could help affected families cope with losses and increase public acceptance of tiger conservation.

The 2022 census showed 355 adult tigers in the country’s five national parks -- Chitwan 128, Bardiya 125, Parsa 41, Shuklaphanta 36 and Banke 25.