Kathmandu-The significant increase in Nepal’s tiger population has been widely praised and discussed from several quarters ever since the government announced the tiger population 2018 on September 23, marking the occasion of National Conservation Day.
The rise in number of Roya Bengal Tigers (Pate Bag) is obviously a matter of pride for all of us. The positive coverage in national and international media about Nepal’s success story of tiger conservation also lends credence to this fact.
At 2010 Tiger Summit in St. Petersburg, Russia, Nepal’s former Prime Minister Madhav Kumar Nepal had expressed his commitment to double the numbers of tiger by 2022.
According to government data, Nepal had an estimated 121 tigers in 2010, and the number rose to 198 in 2013. The latest survey of 2018 counted 235 tigers. The data shows that Nepal is almost closer to achieving its target of doubling the number of tigers as it only falls short by seven big cats. Rather than just doubling the number of tigers by 2022, chances are high the number of big cats will cross the target.
Against this backdrop of this celebration, two questions have strongly emerged. The first question is: how the number of tigers dwindled by 27 in Chitwan National Park? And the second question is: how the number of tigers surprisingly grew by 37?
Perhaps because of the failure to provide a scientific or reliable answer this question the announcement of tiger population planned for July 29, international tiger day, was pushed back by 50 days.
The objective of this write-up will be focused on seeking challenges and opportunities in the current economic and political context. Nepal’s Terai region is the main habitat of tigers. The government has established Chitwan, Parsa, Banke, Bardiya and Shuklaphanta as the national parks where tigers are found.
National park staffers, Nepal Army personnel have been deployed for the conservation of tigers, while local community and civil society have been contributing from outside in the conservations efforts. Similarly, development partner organizations have made a huge contribution in increasing tiger population in Nepal by providing financial and technical assistance.
However, the current result of the counting shows the challenges to tiger conservation should be minutely searched. We have an added responsibility of intensifying the conservation efforts by looking for more avenues towards that end.
The security personnel have expressed worry over the decline in tiger population in Chitwan National Park. Experts assume that the reason behind the dwindle in the number big cats could be wetland, grassy-land, and poor management of their habitat. On the other hand, it is also presumed that the tigers of Chitwan could have move to Parsa or Balmiki in India. But such assumption has not been officially verified.
Similarly, some experts have also linked the drop in Chitwan’s tiger population with the issue of climate change, flooding in Narayani and Rapti Rivers. However, this theory has not been proven by studies.
After a significant drop in the number of tigers in Chitwan, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has formed a team to conduct Catering Capacity study of Chitwan National Park. The team will study the national park’s carrying capacity of tigers and rhinos and make public its study report. The government should also make public the reason behind the drop in number of tigers.
Last year, floods triggered by monsoon rains affected many wild animals in Chitwan. Nine rhinoceros swept across the border to Indian territory were rescued and repatriated later. The rhino was rescued for the last time on November 19, 2017. Of the 9 rhinos rescued from India, one was male and 8 were female. The incidents of rhinos being swept into India was unheard of in the past.
It is necessary to conduct an in-depth study whether the number of tigers plunged in Chitwan because they were swept into India just like rhinoceros. The recent result has added the government’s responsibility to find the reason behind the dwindle in tiger population. The government should think of a long-term solution if the number of tigers declined because they were swept to India by floods. Then the issue of flooding should be viewed together with the climate change.
We can’t rule out the possibility of even a horrible situation, if the fundamental matters of climate change such as temperature, rains, wetland and grassy land were not viewed from an integrated perspective for conservation of species. The government has paid attention to conserve the tigers. The government has incorporated the districts adjoining the Chure region—Argakhanchi, Surkhet, Dadeldhura and Doti—in its second land-girth strategy because the tigers will change their habitat to the foothill of Chure and upper region as climate refugees due to shortage of food along the river banks and downstream area.
Similarly, many more challenges have emerged with the increase in the number of tigers. The growth in tiger population has also increased the threat of conflict between humans and big cats. Those falling prey to tiger attacks are mostly from poor and backward community who rely on natural resources for the livelihood. Two tigers were held captive in Chitwan national park deeming them as man-eater tigers.
Besides killing the people, the man-eater tigers adds further worries to the distressed family members. The government provides Rs 1million in relief to the family in case someone dies in a tiger attack. But the process to gather proof and necessary documents is lengthy and full of formalities. People who have lost their family members need psycho-social counselling. But such practice seems almost non-existent in Nepal. It is necessary to make the attitude of the affected family positive about tigers. Instead of delaying the release of relief amount with a promise of a huge amount, the government should make arrangement for immediate release of the relief money though the amount is small.
The government stakeholders can’t back down from its responsibility of spreading awareness when someone becomes psychological victims in the name of conservation. The authority should hold as many as possible awareness programs based on the conflict between tigers and human. If the tigers have enough food and shelter, it won’t come from its territory that will reduce the conflict between tiger, human and wildlife.
At a program organized on the occasion of tiger day, Minister for Forest and Environment Shakti Bahadur Basnet underscored the need for conducting a study on how many tigers Nepal needs. Indeed, a study is imperative to determine the number of tigers required for Nepal. Not much studies and research has been done about the nature and habitat of tiger, and its impact on human society and people.
According to data provided by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), 33 tigers died natural deaths in Nepal in the past five years (until July-August). Chitwan National Park recorded the highest 17 tiger deaths. In addition to becoming sad over the deaths of tiger due to natural causes, we should also think of the plight of the family who lost their loved ones to tiger attack. It is also necessary to study whether the affected family has received compensation from the government, or how the money is being spent.
The government directive has the provision for providing relief to people suffering the loss human lives and livestock due wildlife attacks. In case of minor injury to human being, medical expenses up to Rs 200,000 is provided depending on the nature of injury, prescription and recommendation.
Similarly, the next of kin of a victim of wildlife attacks will be provided a relief of Rs1 million, while Rs 30,000 will be extended as a relief for the loss of a cattle.
Currently, Nepal only has the provision to provide financial assistance to the victims of wildlife attacks. However, there is no guarantee that the victims of tiger attack will get everything from the monetary assistance. That’s why the victims should be helped socially and psychologically.
During the counting of tiger through camera trappings method, a tiger was found dead. The tiger was allegedly poisoned to death by the locals. But the death was not deeply investigated. Extensive studies are necessary on the ways to reduce tiger-human conflicts. Tigers won’t come out to human settlements if enough food and shelter could be ensured them within their habitat, thereby reducing the human-tiger conflict.
Tiger poaching
On March 5, 2018, Patan Appellate Court convicted a man on the charge of smuggling tiger body parts including hide, and carcass and handed a five-year jail sentence.
Likewise, the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police seized five hides of bones of tiger from July 16, 2016 to March 18, 2018.
From March 26 to May 21 (2018), CIB had a person with a tiger hide and 9 kg bone.
Earlier on September 3, Police had arrested four persons with tiger bones and skin. Still the poaching of tiger continues.
The aforementioned are only a few example incidents. Officials engaged in investigations say the mostly youths are found involved in poaching and illegal trade of tiger. Many of them are lured by quick money, while others are drawn to wildlife crimes due to lack of employment.
That’s why it is necessary to create conservation employment opportunity targeting the youth of mediocre income situation. The creation of conservation oriented employment will help in reducing wildlife crime.
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 has made it illegal to wound, kill and trade of wildlife including rhinoceros, tigers, elephants, musk deer, Dhwanshe Chituwa (clouded leopard). The law has the provision of penalties ranging from Rs 500,000 to Rs 1 million for those found guilty of trading wildlife parts such rhino horn, deer musk, skin of snow leopard, or keeping carcass of other conserved wild animals. In addition, there is also the provision of jail sentence from five years to 15 years or both for violating the law. It is crucial to enact and enforce stern law to control poaching of tigers.
Opportunity for tiger conservation
Nepal is a rich country in the world in terms of its wildlife species. The increase in the tiger population corroborates this fact. Nepal has been able to make a name for itself in the world because of the increase in the number of tigers.
Nepal’s successful conservation initiatives have opened the doors for a lot of opportunities. It will help in increasing the number of tourists, creating employment for the youths, and making the ecosystem fresh and healthy. If we could double the number of tigers by 2022, Nepal will be known as “tiger hotspot” in the world. The conservation of tigers will play a vital role in increasing income sources. Therefore, it is our mutual responsibility to turn the challenge of tiger conservation into an opportunity.
