KATHMANDU: Bardiya National Park in Bardiya district has seen its Royal Bengal Tiger population rise to approximately 125, making it Nepal’s second-largest sanctuary for these majestic creatures. This figure places Bardiya National Park just behind Chitwan National Park, which currently houses 128 tigers. The population has surged from a mere 18 tigers in 2010, thanks to committed conservation initiatives involving local communities, as noted by Purusottam Wagle, the Conservation Officer at Bardiya National Park.

On World Tiger Day, celebrated on July 29 to promote tiger conservation awareness, Wagle highlighted the park's achievement and reported a notable reduction in tiger attacks within the park and its buffer zones over the past two years. The park has focused on effective habitat management, community education, and the installation of electric fences and concrete barriers to address human-wildlife conflicts.

Wagle also noted increasing tiger activity in the Khata biological corridor and neighboring forest regions. Despite these encouraging advancements, problems persist. Tanka Gurung, a senior park ranger, stated that five people died last fiscal year as a result of interactions with tigers and cheetahs. The park is working on further methods to reduce similar disputes throughout the current fiscal year.

The rising tiger population in Bardiya National Park exemplifies Nepal's continuous commitment to wildlife conservation and attempts to conserve these iconic animals. The park's achievement in growing tiger numbers demonstrates the effectiveness of its conservation policies, as well as the need to remain committed to animal protection.