Around 23.39 percent of Nepal’s total land area falls within protected zones, playing a vital role in conserving the country’s rich biodiversity. These sustained efforts have enabled Nepal to make remarkable progress in protecting and restoring key species such as tigers, rhinos, elephants and gharials. At the 2010 “St. Petersburg Tiger Summit,” the international community pledged to double the global wild tiger population by 2022. Nepal, along with 12 other tiger-range countries, committed to this goal. In line with that pledge, Nepal increased its tiger population from just 121 in 2010 to 355 in 2022—nearly tripling the number. This achievement earned global recognition and became a source of national pride. Improvements in habitat quality, growth in prey species, expansion of protected areas, stronger anti-poaching measures, and robust community-level conservation efforts all contributed to this success. Close cooperation among the government, partner organizations, local communities and other stakeholders also played a crucial role. However, the rise in tiger numbers has made habitat management and the reduction of human–tiger conflict more urgent. Climate change in recent years has further posed a challenge in protecting biodiversity. As warming temperatures and erratic rainfall make traditional habitats unsuitable, it is natural for tigers and other wildlife to search for more favourable environments. Climate change affects hydrological and food cycles and disrupts ecological systems, creating additional challenges for conservation. Species that cannot adapt to these rapidly changing conditions face heightened risks of decline or extinction.
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Research on the impacts of climate change on Nepal’s rare species remains limited. Recently, Nepali and international scientists assessed how different climate scenarios could affect tiger habitats. A study-- Tigers on the Move: The Impact of Climate Change on Tiger Distribution in Nepal-- published in Ecology and Evolution found that extreme weather events, rapid industrialization, urbanization and shifts in land use directly influence tiger movement, distribution and habitat. Irregular precipitation and shifting temperature patterns may force tigers to relocate. As habitats move closer to human settlements, the study warns of a likely rise in human–tiger conflict. The research projects that future tiger habitats could expand beyond existing protected areas, particularly toward Nepal’s northeastern regions. These new habitats are expected to lie mostly outside protected zones. While 64 percent of current tiger habitat falls within protected areas and 36 percent outside, future projections suggest that the share outside protected zones could rise to between 58 and 64 percent. This indicates that climate change will complicate Nepal’s conservation achievements and ecosystem restoration efforts. As key tiger habitats shift beyond protected boundaries, Nepal will need to adopt new conservation strategies.
When suitable habitats shrink or disappear, tigers naturally seek new territories. But urbanization and infrastructure development are increasing human pressure across potential tiger ranges. Tigers prefer dense forests and tend to avoid human presence. Most attacks on humans involve injured or aging tigers or young dispersing males. This underscores the need to strengthen monitoring systems for such high-risk individuals. Ensuring corridor connectivity and restoring ecological systems are also essential to facilitate tiger movement. Given the regular movement of tigers between protected areas in Nepal and India, both countries must deepen their cross-border conservation efforts. Joint anti-poaching operations are already underway but must be further strengthened. Enhancing biological corridors, improving monitoring mechanisms and fostering a stronger culture of coexistence between humans and wildlife are all critical. Only through such measures can the long-term conservation of endangered species like the tiger be secured.
