Tiger Census to Begin at Shuklaphanta National Park From March 7

Officials are preparing to begin a tiger census in Shuklaphanta National Park from March 7, park information officer Purushottam Wagle has announced. The census will take place immediately after the House of Representatives election, as many park staff are assigned to election duties.

Wagle said automated cameras will be installed across Shuklaphanta and nearby protected areas at Laljhadi–Mohana and Jogbudha in Dadeldhura to capture and count tigers. The park office has divided the Shuklaphanta–Laljhadi–Jogbuda Complex into 260 grid sectors of 2 × 2 km each, placing one pair of cameras in every grid to monitor tiger movements.

In the last nationwide tiger count in 2022, the complex was estimated to host 36 adult tigers based on camera trap images and analysis.

Although Shuklaphanta is one of Nepal’s smaller national parks, conservation officials say its abundant prey species support a growing tiger population. The park, known for its diverse wildlife and rare plants, covers an area of 305 square kilometers.