BANKE, July 30: Nepal's Banke National Park has recorded a landmark conservation success, with its tiger population more than doubling from 25 to 51 in the latest national tiger census. Officials credit the surge to improved habitat protection, abundant prey, and reliable water sources.
In contrast, Bardiya National Park, once home to Nepal's largest tiger population, recorded a decline of 13 tigers.
According to the latest census, Chitwan National Park leads with 145 tigers, followed by Bardiya with 112, Parsa National Park with 71, Banke with 51, and Shuklaphanta National Park with 50. The previous census recorded 128 tigers in Chitwan, 125 in Bardiya, 41 in Parsa, 36 in Shuklaphanta, and 25 in Banke. This means tiger numbers rose by 17 in Chitwan, 30 in Parsa, 14 in Shuklaphanta, and 26 in Banke, while Bardiya lost 13.
Human-Tiger Coexistence Amidst Rising Tiger Population
Banke National Park Chief Conservation Officer Birendra Prasad Kandel said the dramatic increase reflects the combined efforts of the park administration, the Nepali Army, Nepal Police, Armed Police Force, conservation partners, and local communities.
He said tigers thrive where they feel secure and have easy access to prey. Years of habitat improvement in Banke have created those conditions, allowing the population to grow significantly.
Kandel also noted that Banke and Bardiya are linked by a wildlife corridor, making tiger movement between the two parks a natural process. Some of Bardiya's decline may be due to tigers relocating to Banke.
"Tigers do not recognise administrative boundaries. They settle wherever suitable habitat exists," he said.
Water scarcity has long been a challenge in Banke's Chure and Bhabar region. To address this, the park has built around 30 artificial ponds, installed pipelines to supply water to key areas, and ensured year round water availability. These measures have benefited not only tigers but also prey species such as spotted deer, barking deer, four horned antelope, and nilgai.
Regular grassland management has also increased prey populations, boosting tiger breeding and long term survival. Anti poaching patrols have been strengthened, while efforts to prevent encroachment into wildlife habitats have intensified.
Kandel cautioned that a larger tiger population also brings new challenges. As tiger numbers rise, encounters near human settlements could become more frequent, making community safety, public awareness, and compensation mechanisms increasingly important.
Conservation experts say Banke's success demonstrates that effective habitat management, reliable water supplies, abundant prey, and strong anti-poaching measures can produce remarkable conservation gains within a relatively short period. They add that maintaining this progress while ensuring peaceful coexistence between people and tigers will be the next major challenge.
