Nepal is set to establish its first-ever Tiger Sanctuary within Chitwan National Park in the southern district of Chitwan, designed to house up to 20 'problematic tigers' in a natural setting while doubling as a major eco-tourism destination. The government has already allocated NPR 30 million for the project in the upcoming fiscal year 2026-27, which begins in mid-July.

Why Nepal Needs the Sanctuary

Nepal's tiger population has surged dramatically — nearly tripling from 121 individuals in 2009 to 355 in 2022, driven by sustained conservation efforts. That success, however, has come with a sharp rise in human-tiger conflicts and mounting pressure on existing rescue centres, where animals are currently held in small cages at scattered locations.

'Problematic tigers' — typically older, injured, or territory-displaced animals unable to hunt natural prey — increasingly target livestock and human settlements near forest edges. The proposed sanctuary is designed specifically to house these animals, which cannot safely be released back into the wild.

What the Sanctuary Will Look Like

The facility will be developed on approximately 52 hectares of land at Devnagar in Chitwan, expanding the existing wildlife rescue centre that already has veterinary and holding infrastructure. It will be divided into three functional zones: a holding centre for two tigers, an elevated viewing area for four tigers, and a Jeep Safari zone accommodating 10 to 12 tigers.

Hari Bhadra Acharya, senior ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said the design deliberately inverts the conventional safari model. 'The tigers will roam freely within the enclosure, while visitors will travel through the area in specially designed enclosed safari vehicles resembling secure cages,' he said. 'Dedicated safari routes and fire lines will separate the vehicles from the animals.'

A three-layer fencing system — including reinforced double perimeter fencing and internal barriers — will protect both visitors and animals. The sanctuary has also been designed to avoid disrupting wildlife movement through the existing forest corridor.

The Three Triggers of Human-Tiger Conflict

According to Acharya, three circumstances typically push tigers into conflict with humans. First, young tigers dispersing in search of new territories are sometimes forced out of tiger-dense forests into villages, where they may attack livestock or people. Second, tigers injured in territorial fights lose the ability to hunt natural prey and shift to easier targets near settlements. Third, elderly tigers with worn teeth and claws move toward villages after losing their hunting ability.

'To ensure the safety of people and their livestock from attacks by such tigers, the tiger sanctuary has been envisioned,' Acharya said.

Timeline and Next Steps

Construction remains at an early stage. A technical committee led by Acharya has submitted a concept report, and a Detailed Project Report (DPR) outlining design, implementation plan, and estimated cost is expected soon. Once construction begins, the infrastructure is estimated to take at least two to three years to complete.

The project aims to combine wildlife conservation with eco-tourism revenue to fund the sanctuary's long-term operational costs, including animal feeding and maintenance. If executed as planned, Nepal's Tiger Sanctuary at Devnagar could become a regional model for managing human-wildlife conflict at scale.