Tiger census preparations underway in Shuklaphanta national park, set for late magh

Kanchanpur: Preparations are underway for a tiger census in Shuklaphanta National Park as part of the nationwide tiger census being conducted by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.

The department has initiated the national tiger census across the country, and preparations have also been completed in Shuklaphanta National Park, according to the park office. The tiger census has been divided into three ‘complexes’ covering five national parks and areas outside the parks. At present, the census is being carried out in the Chitwan–Parsa Complex and in Bardiya and Banke national parks.

Shuklaphanta National Park falls under the third complex, and the census here will begin after the completion of work in the other complexes, said the park’s information officer, Purushottam Wagle. He added that the park office’s manpower is fully prepared for the task.

“All preparations have been completed by the park for the tiger census. After the tiger census in Chitwan is completed, the technical equipment will be brought here and the census will begin towards the end of Magh,” Wagle said. He also noted that the number of tigers in the park has been increasing in recent years.

According to the national tiger census conducted in 2022, Shuklaphanta National Park had 36 tigers. However, internal monitoring by the park office this year recorded 43 tigers. Conservationists attribute this increase to the sufficient density of prey species in the park, despite its relatively small area.

The density of prey species in Shuklaphanta National Park is 146 per square kilometer. Renowned for its wildlife and rare flora, the park covers an area of 305 square kilometers.