Tigers ( Panthera tigris tigris)

Tiger populations are under threat from prey depletion, tiger poaching and habitat degradation and fragmentation. These threats arise from a variety of factors linked to local rural uses from variety of factors linked to local rural uses as well as economic development projects. Essential challenge now lies in setting appropriate priorities in responding to these threats. In Nepal , fragmentation and loss of natural habitat and poaching are the major impediment to effective conservation.

Current Status and Distribution

Considering its endangered status, tiger is in Appendix I of CITES (Convention on International Trade of Endangered Flora and Fauna) and is protected by Nepal 's National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act (1973) in Appendix I. The total population of Royal Bengal Tiger throughout its range has been estimated around 3,176- 4,556 individuals. In Nepal , estimate population of tiger is around 123 distributed in three distinct populations in Chitwan National Park , Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve respectively. Sporadic distribution of tigers has been recorded in the areas outside protected areas in corridors and connectivity of Terai Arc Landscape. Tiger population estimated in between 1995 and 2002/03 is as follow:

Source: Status and Distribution and Monitoring of Tigers in Protected Areas of Terai Arc Landscape- Nepal : A photographic Documentation of Camera-trapped Tigers

Tigers were once distributed throughout the lowland Terai and the adjoining foothills of the country. After the collapse of the Rana regime in 1950s and the eradication of malaria during the mid-1950s, Chitwan opened to outsiders. Thousands of people can down from the mid-hills and large swathes of wildlife habitat were cleared for human settlements, agriculture and other development activities. Uncontrolled hunting of wild animals occurred until the mammalian species including tiger and rhino were nearly exterminated from the area. Swamp deer, one of tiger's major prey species, disappeared from Chitwan by early 1970s. Significant decrease in tiger population was noticed during 1960s and 1970s.

In 1964, the late King Mahendra declared the southern part of Chitwan valley as Mahendra Mriga Kunj. Later in 1973, National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 was enacted and Royal Chitwan National Park was declared. Parallel to the establishment of RCNP, the Tiger Ecology Project was initiated in the early 1970's as a joint venture of the government of Nepal , the Smithsonian Institution, and World Wildlife Fund to conduct research on the tiger and its prey species.

Based on recommendation of these studies, the park boundaries were extended in 1977 to present size of 932 sq km. Furthermore as an extension to RCNP, the Parsa Wildlife Reserve was gazetted in 1976 as an extension of RCNP as an approach to maintain the continuity of habitats based on the ecosystem management approach. Beside these, other significant works of the period were Operation Tiger and Tiger Conservation Project. Research and Monitoring Unit has been established to monitor tigers and their prey species in TAL.