CHITWAN, Feb 22: Chitwan National Park (CNP) has seven tigers in cages, and these tigers require five kilograms of meat daily. However, the park's annual budget only covers expenses for two months.
Avinas Thapa Magar, CNP's information officer, stated that Rs 438,000 has been allocated for the tigers' food this fiscal year. Feeding the seven tigers five kilograms of goat meat daily costs Rs 202,500 per month. While the funds for Shrawan (mid-July to mid-August) and Bhadra (mid-August to mid-September) have been disbursed, the funds for the following months are yet to be processed.
Human-Tiger Coexistence Amidst Rising Tiger Population
Although the tigers are fed daily, the payments have not been made as per the information provided. The park houses three tigers in Kasara, two in Dev Nagar, and two in Sauraha. Two months ago, a tiger captured in Madi was sent to Parsa due to a lack of space.
He said, "We do not have enough space to house more tigers, nor the budget to feed those already in the cages. The problem arises as the budget for tigers decreases every year, while the number of tigers requiring control continues to rise." The park is preparing to request additional funding from the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation.
The authorities capture and house tigers in cages if they become violent. According to the latest count, Chitwan National Park is home to 128 adult tigers.
