Tiger census begins in Bardiya, Banke and Dang

By Jyoti Panthi,Babai (Bardiya), Dec. 25: Tiger census has begun in Bardiya district, considered a favourable ground for tiger conservation, along with Banke and Dang districts since Wednesday. 

The nationwide census aims to determine the current number of tigers, five years after the last count.

According to the 2021 census, Bardiya district alone had 125 tigers. This year’s count is expected to provide updated and accurate information on the number of tigers, their distribution and the status of their prey species.

The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) said five blocks (camps) have been designated for the census across the three districts. Each block has been divided into beats of two kilometres, and camera trapping technology will be used to count the tigers. It will take 22 days to survey each block, and the entire operation is expected to take 88 days.

A total of 450 cameras have been installed for the census. Two cameras have been placed in each beat to identify individual tigers and record their movements. 

A seven-member team has been deployed in each block, comprising a team leader, two game scouts, one assistant and members from the army, students and conservation workers.

Ajit Tumbahangphe, chief of NTNC Bardiya, said the tiger census in Bardiya, Banke and Dang would be completed within 88 days. 

Sarojmani Paudel, information officer at Bardiya National Park, said the national tiger census, conducted every five years to determine the exact number of tigers, formally began on Wednesday.

The government signed a commitment at the Tiger Summit held in St Petersburg, Russia, in 2010 to double the tiger population. In line with that pledge, the 2021 census showed that the number of tigers in Bardiya alone had reached 125. 

Conservationists expected that the number to increase further in this year’s count.

Conservationist Hemanta Acharya said the start of the five-yearly tiger census is an encouraging development for all those involved in conservation. 

As the tiger population has increased in Bardiya, thousands of foreign tourists visit Bardiya National Park every year to see the tigers, contributing positively to local tourism and the economy.

Bardiya National Park is regarded as a success story in tiger conservation.