A tiger census is scheduled to begin in Chitwan National Park (CNP) from December 16. The census will also be conducted in three other national parks: Banke, Bardiya, and Shuklaphanta. 

The three-month survey is conducted every four years.

According to CNP Information Officer Abinash Thapa Magar, enumerators will undergo orientation on December 16–17.

Participants will include CNP staff, technical experts from the National Trust for Nature Conservation, local volunteers, students, and conservation partners. 

Around 150 personnel will be mobilized for the census.

Magar said that 900 grids have been demarcated in the two wildlife reserves. This means that a two square kilometres area will be counted using one grid. 

During the counting process, the two reserves will be divided into three sections for counting. 

Cameras will be placed in each section for 20 days. Each section will have 300 grids. 

A camera will be placed in a grid for 20 days. Technicians will set up camp and stay in the spaces between the grids to conduct the counting.

 

Previously, in the tiger census conducted in 2022, it was reported that there were 335 adult tigers in Nepal. 

In that census, 128 tigers were counted in Chitwan, 125 in Bardia National Park, 25 in Banke National Park, 41 in Parsa and 36 in Shuklaphanta.

According to Magar, preparations are underway to conduct a rhino census after the tiger census is completed.