Nepal Government earmarks NRs 60 Million for the Conservation of Tigers

Nepal’s Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation (MoFSC) has finalized a plan for the conservation of tigers that involves a budget of Rs. 60 million. This maybe the biggest investment by the government of Nepal for the conservation of a single endangered species. This is understandable as the nation has pledged to double its population of tigers by the year 2022. Tiger habitats have been found at Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve , Parsa Wildlife Reserve and Banke National Park. The allocated amount will be spent through National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) under the coordination of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). Fifty million will be spent inside the park whereas 10 million will be set aside for the management of forests (also the potential tiger habitat) outside the park area.

Population of One-Horned Rhino Increases in Nepal’s Wildlife Parks

According to a population census on the endangered one-horned rhinos, carried out by the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), Nepal there are at present 534 rhinos in the country, an increase of 99 from the 2008 census. The counting was carried out at Chitwan National Park (CNP), Bardia National Park (BNP) and Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR). Counting was carried simultaneously at these places. 503 rhinos were recorded in Chitwan National Park, 24 in Bardia National Park and 7 in Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve. The rhino census, supported by World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is conducted every three years.

Rhino