Tiger Monitoring has begun in Royal Bardia National Park in western Terai of Nepal. The last survey in RBNP was carried out four years ago in 2000-01. Altogether 18 tigers have been recorded in the Karnali floodplain areas.

A team of six park staff has been formed under the coordination of Chief Warden of RBNP, Puran Bhakta Shrestha. For the first time, tigers will be monitored by taking photographs through a new sets of passive DeerCam camera traps. WWF Nepal Program has been supporting tiger monitoring through Bardia Integrated Conservation Project (BICP).

India has also started national survey of tigers from 15 January 2006 using new scientific techniques such as computerized pugmarks, camera traps, and DNA tests. Indian scientists are also planning to maintain an archive of photo identity cards for all tigers in India. Under the scheme, camera traps to shoot tigers would be set up in all national parks in India and tigers would be photographed throughout 2006. The last all-India census in 1993 estimated a total of 3,750 tigers.

In Nepal, estimated population of tiger is around 123 distributed in three distinct populations in Royal Chitwan National Park , Royal Bardia National Park and Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

Source: WWF Nepal ,  TerraGreen