Tiger population in Nepal has increased to 355 from 121 in 2009, according to a census report released on Friday. 

Nepal is one of the 13 countries that had committed to double the tiger population in the first global tiger conference held in St Petersburg in 2010. The Nepal government had set a target of increasing the number of tigers to 250 by 2022. 

“We exceeded the target,” said Prem Narayan Kandel, secretary at the ministry of forest and environment, adding “Nepal is the first country among 13 tiger range countries to achieve its target. We are proud of this achievement."

Nepal stepped up efforts for tiger conservation ever since it made the commitment in the global platform. 

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation integrated the fragmented tiger habitats in Chitwan and Parsa. Tiger movement between these two parks was interrupted due to human settlements separating the parks. The government went so far as to relocate the settlement of Ramauli-Pratappur from Chitwan National Park to ease movement of tigers. 

Security was beefed up in the conservation areas. Nepal Army was entrusted with responsibility of observing and patrolling these areas. The added security prevented tiger poaching, and limited human activities in the conservation areas. 

The government even established a separate national park in Banke district in 2010 which extends over 550 square kilometers. The park is adjacent to the Kamdi corridor that joins Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary in India. The park links with Bardia National Park, which links with the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India via Khata. This helped increase the number of tigers in Banke and Bardiya districts. 

Tigers are found in Chitwan National Park (128), Parsa Wildlife Reserve (41), Bardia National Park (125), Banke National Park (25) and Shuklaphanta Wildlife National Park (36). 

Conservationists are elated with the achievement made in tiger conservation. “This conservation win is a result of political will and concerted efforts of local communities, youth, enforcement agencies, and conservation partners under the leadership of the Government of Nepal,” said Ghana Shyam Gurung, Country Director of WWF- Nepal.

The increased tiger population, however, has created problems too. Human-wildlife conflict has escalated massively in the conservation areas. 

At least 23 people have been killed by tigers in Bardiya district in the last two years alone. Locals accuse the government of taking away their livelihoods in the name of saving tigers. 

In January last year, a Royal Bengal Tiger pounced on Durga Tharu, 30, when she was in local forest to collect Sal leaves. She somehow managed to escape from the tiger attack by punching the tiger’s nose but felt scared to return to the jungle. 

“If you kill a tiger, the government will slap a life-long imprisonment but if a tiger kills us they will give a few thousands rupees as compensation. That’s it,” Durga Tharu, the tiger survivor, told the Everest Chronicle adding, “For them our life has no value at all. The tiger saving target is being achieved at the cost of our life and livelihood.”

Wildlife experts say protecting habitats, prey bases and ensuring the livelihoods of people, mainly those reliant on forest, remains a major challenge for tiger conservation.