BARDIYA: Bardiya National Park, located in Bardiya district, now boasts approximately 125 Royal Bengal Tigers, making it Nepal’s second-largest habitat for these majestic big cats.
This number places it closely behind Chitwan National Park, which currently houses 128 of these endangered species.
From just 18 tigers in 2010, the population at Bardiya National Park has thrived, thanks to dedicated conservation efforts involving local communities, according to Purusottam Wagle, Conservation Officer at the Park.
Celebrating this achievement on World Tiger Day, observed annually on July 29 to raise awareness about tiger conservation, Wagle highlighted a significant decrease in tiger attacks both within the park and its buffer zones over the past two years.
“The park has prioritized habitat management, community awareness, and the implementation of measures such as electric fencing and concrete walls to mitigate human-wildlife conflicts,” Wagle stated.
He also noted increased tiger movement in the Khata biological corridor and nearby forest areas.
Despite these successes, challenges persist. Tanka Gurung, a senior officer at the park, lamented that five fatalities occurred last fiscal year due to tiger and cheetah attacks.
Plans are underway to further reduce such conflicts in the park areas during the current fiscal year.
Overall, the rise in tiger numbers at Bardiya National Park underscores Nepal’s commitment to wildlife conservation and the ongoing efforts to safeguard these iconic species.
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