Bardiya National Park is celebrating a significant milestone with its tiger population reaching an estimated 125. This makes it the second largest tiger habitat in Nepal, trailing only Chitwan National Park with an estimated 128 tigers.
Park conservation officer Purushottam Wagle attributed this remarkable growth to successful community collaboration in biodiversity conservation. The tiger population in Bardiya has tripled since 2010, a testament to the concerted efforts to protect these endangered big cats.
To address the increasing human-wildlife conflict, the park is prioritizing habitat management, community awareness, and physical barriers such as electric fences and concrete walls. While tiger attacks have decreased in recent years, five people lost their lives to tiger and leopard attacks last year.
As Tiger Day is observed today, authorities are emphasizing the need for continued efforts to conserve tigers and their habitat. With the growing tiger population, there’s also been an increase in tiger movement within the park and its surrounding areas.
The Division Forest Office, Bardiya, is actively working to reduce human-wildlife conflict through awareness campaigns and infrastructure development.
This surge in tiger numbers is a positive indicator of the park’s conservation success, but it also highlights the challenges of balancing wildlife protection with human safety and livelihoods.
