Press Release on updating the number of tiger in Chitwan National Park

Tiger Monitoring in Chitwan National Park was conducted from 7th December, 2009 to 22nd March 2010 (22 Mangsir-8 Chaitra, 2067 BS) in the coordination of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) with the support of WWF Nepal and National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). First one month was used for sign survey and remaining 62 days was spent on camera trapping. 3582 man days and 170 elephant days was used to conduct the trapping.

The tiger number of Chitwan National Park was released in 2009 (2065 BS) with adult tiger 91 (71-147). As per the program of tiger monitoring every alternate year, Chitwan National Parks tiger monitoring was performed including churia and Barandabhar buffer zone in 1261 sq.km area and found 125 adult tigers (95-185).

There were 121 (100-194) adult tigers last year and has reached to 155 (124-229) from this years monitoring with density of 6.53 adult tigers per 100 sq.km.

Tiger monitoring was performed from the staffs, elephants and other resources of DNPWC, CNP, Nepal Army deputed for the protection of CNP, Bardia NP, NTNC, Biodivesity Conservation Program, TAL, WWF Nepal. Additional manpower was taken from the volunteers of the universities, trainees from local Tiger Bearing Pas Buffer zone, nature guides and local people.

About Nrs 38 lakh financial assistance was provided through NTNC for this monitoring work.

A central level coordination committee was functional under the convene of Director General, DNPWC country rep of WWF and Member Sec of NTNC as members. For technical matter, Deputy director general, DNPWC coordinated a team comprising technical experts of WWF Nepal, NTNC and DNPWC. Chief Conservation Officer of CNP coordinated the field level team comprising office incharge of NTNC/BCC, TAL , Battalion Commander of Nepal army deputed for the protection of CNP. ITNC of Tiger Tops Jungle lodge had provided few camera traps for this task where as park hotels and hotels outside had supported by different means.

We would like to thank all for providing support for this important monitoring task.

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