Rising Tiger Population in Nepal Creates Habitat Challenges

The increasing tiger population in Nepal has raised concerns about the adequacy of their habitat, with experts stressing the need for expanded and well-managed habitats to accommodate the growing numbers.

Although national parks, buffer zones, and forest areas serve as tiger habitats, these spaces are becoming insufficient due to the rising tiger population. Haribhadra Acharya, a senior ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, emphasized the need to increase tiger habitats while speaking at an interaction program organized by Chitwan National Park.

Acharya suggested that establishing open zoos could be a solution, linking conservation with income generation. He noted that the tiger population in Nepal has grown significantly, from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022, with 198 tigers in 2013 and 253 in 2018. However, this growth has resulted in a 93% decrease in suitable tiger habitat.

While Nepal’s forest areas can support around 500 tigers, the core zones of national parks can accommodate 404 tigers. Acharya emphasized the need to preserve the deer population — the main prey for tigers — along with other species like monkeys and domestic animals that contribute to the tiger’s food chain.

Globally, the number of tigers has plummeted from an estimated 100,000 a century ago to just 5,000 today. The increasing tiger population in Nepal is a positive sign of effective conservation efforts, but it also underscores the pressing need for sustainable habitat management to ensure the long-term survival of these endangered big cats.

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