Nepal's wild tiger population has climbed to 429 in 2026, up from 355 recorded in the previous census in 2022, according to the country's latest National Tiger Census released on Wednesday, 29 July to mark World Tiger Day. The figures, unveiled by Nepal's Ministry of Agriculture, Forests and Environment, underscore a remarkable conservation turnaround — from just 121 tigers in 2009 to 429 today.

Key Findings of the 2026 Census

The Chitwan–Parsa landscape holds the highest concentration of tigers, with 145 big cats recorded in the Chitwan area alone. Bardiya National Park and its surrounding forests account for 112 tigers, while Parsa National Park and its adjoining zones host 71. Banke National Park has 51 tigers, and Shuklaphanta National Park and surrounding forests shelter 50.

The census was conducted primarily through the camera trap method, with around 1,100 automatic cameras deployed and systematically rotated across 1,900 survey points. Individual tigers were identified by their unique stripe patterns — as distinctive as fingerprints. A multidisciplinary team of 250 to 300 technical experts and field personnel carried out the survey, with data analysed using statistical and analytical models.

What Experts Said

Hari Bhadra Acharya, senior ecologist at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, described the results as a landmark achievement. 'This is a major achievement for Nepal,' he said. 'Not only has the country succeeded in conserving an endangered species, but it has also managed to steadily increase its tiger population.' He added that the findings further reinforce Nepal's standing as a global leader in tiger conservation.

Forest Cover and Global Context

The tiger population rebound has coincided with a significant expansion of Nepal's forest cover. According to a World Bank report, Nepal increased its forested area from 29% in 1994 to more than 46% in 2022 — one of the more striking reforestation stories in South Asia.

Globally, the picture has also improved. According to the World Wildlife Fund (WWF), the worldwide wild tiger population had fallen to approximately 3,200 in 2010 — a 97% decline from historical levels. That figure has since recovered to 5,574. India hosts the world's largest tiger population at 3,682. The recovery was partly catalysed by the St. Petersburg Declaration on Tiger Conservation, endorsed at the Tiger Summit in Russia's Saint Petersburg in 2010, which set the goal of doubling the global wild tiger population by 2022.

Conservation Challenges Ahead

Despite the progress, Acharya cautioned that a growing tiger population brings its own pressures. 'As tiger numbers increase, encounters and conflicts between people and tigers are also becoming more frequent,' he said. 'Reducing and effectively managing human-tiger conflict will be one of Nepal's biggest conservation challenges in the years ahead.' He identified two primary challenges: sustaining the expanding population through long-term habitat management, and mitigating human-tiger conflict.

Nepal is also planning its first Tiger Sanctuary at Devnagar in Chitwan National Park, in the southern district of Chitwan. The proposed facility would span approximately 52 hectares and accommodate 18 to 20 tigers — primarily older or injured animals, referred to as 'problematic tigers', that can no longer safely hunt natural prey. The sanctuary is also intended to serve as an eco-tourism destination, potentially generating revenue to support ongoing conservation efforts.