The population of tiger in protected areas in the country has seen a remarkable increase this year thanks to the government's efforts to save the wildcats from extinction. Organising a press meet at the Nepal Tourism Board (NTB) on the occasion the World Tiger Day Thursday, the Forest Ministry made public the results of a study conducted in national parks of the country which found a total of 155 tigers in the protected areas in the country. This is an encouraging increase in the number of tiger population in the country as last year's tiger census shows only 121 tigers living in major tiger habitats and forests of the country. The tiger population monitoring was conducted by the Department of National Parks with the help of various national and international agencies. The study was also aided by World Wildlife Fund (WWF). According to the Forest Ministry, the tiger population monitoring in the protected areas found 125 tigers in Chitwan National Park, 18 in Bardiya National Park, 8 in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and 4 in Parsa Wildlife Reserve. Meanwhile, Nepal is observing the World tiger Day by organising various programmes across the country today. In a bid to raise awareness on tiger conservation and highlight the government's efforts to increase tiger population in the country, poetry competition, rallies and various other events are being organised in the capital and other parts of the country. The Forest Ministry said the programmes are aimed at doubling the population of the endangered species in the wild by 2022, the next 'Year of the Tiger' according to Chinese calendar. Experts say, the increase in illegal trade in tiger parts like skin and bones in the Chinese market for manufacturing traditional Chinese medicines remains a major challenge to protect the magnificent species from extinction.



Kilde: Nepal rejser med Kipling Travel