With the new study, the tiger population in Chitwan has now reached 144. [break]
The study was undertaken by a government monitoring team, which has now found 30 more adult tigers during the study period from November 2009 to April 2010. Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and Chitwan National Park (CNP) were involved in the counting process.
The evaluation and monitoring was done by a three-member team comprising Jhamak Karki, under-secretary at CNP Warden Office, Shanta Jnawali of NTNC and Ghanashyam Gurung of WWF-Nepal.
Significantly, this time around the count was carried also encompassing the Chure region, which was not incorporated in the tiger census in 2008-2009.
The revelation has come at a time when Nepal is considered to be a hub of illegal trade in tiger parts with tiger skins and bones illegally smuggled through Nepal to China where it is used for manufacturing of traditional Chinese medicines.
- 30 more adult tigers found in CNP
- Total number 144 in Chitwan alone
- New figure to be incorporated in country profile for Russia Tiger Summit
The government will incorporate the new findings in the country profile to be presented at the Head of States Tiger Summit to be held in St Petersburg, Russia, from September 16-18.
The DNPWC will make public the report on Thursday in a press meet on the occasion of Tiger Day. The new study on monitoring and counting was funded by a UK-based organization.
“The study was funded by a British organization,” an official of DNPWC told myrepublica.com on condition of anonymity.
The tiger census is determined, usually, through pug marks and camera trapping. The government is also trying to install the satellite GPS (Global Positioning System) collar trapping, which is a latest tracking technology.
Until now, the total number of breeding adults was considered to be 121 throughout the country. With the new counting, the number has been found to be 121 in Chitwan alone.
“The new count is a great news as we prepare to submit country profile for the upcoming tiger summit in Russia,” a source at the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation told myrepublica.com, adding, “This is a great leap forward in the area of tiger conservation in Nepal and it will give us significant mileage in international sphere.”
akanshya@myrepublica.com
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