Key Takeaways:

• Nepal's tiger population rose from 355 in 2022 to 429 in 2026, nearly quadruple the 2010 figure
• Chitwan (145) and Bardiya (112) lead habitats, though Bardiya saw a decline from 125
• Growth hailed as a collective conservation achievement, driven by anti-poaching and community stewardship
• Rising numbers exceed habitat capacity (~400), intensifying human-tiger conflict and coexistence challenges

KATHMANDU, JULY 29 Nepal's wild tiger population has climbed to an estimated 429, up from 355 in 2022 and nearly four times the 121 recorded in 2010, the government announced on Wednesday as the country marked the 17th Global Tiger Day. The Ministry of Forests and Environment unveiled the findings of the National Tiger and Prey Base Survey 2026 in Kathmandu. The survey, conducted between December 2025 and July 2026 by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation and the Department of Forests and Soil Conservation, was supported by NTNC, WWF Nepal and ZSL Nepal. Chitwan National Park recorded the highest tiger population with 145, followed by Bardiya (112), Parsa (71), Banke (51) and Shuklaphanta (50). All five parks registered increases from the 2022 census, except Bardiya, whose population declined from 125 to 112. Researchers deployed around 1,100 camera traps across the Chitwan-Parsa, Banke-Bardiya and Shuklaphanta-Laljhadi landscapes, with about 250 personnel conducting systematic surveys and photographing tigers for at least 15 nights in each grid before analysing the images. Worldwide, the wild tiger population has increased from about 3,200 in 2010 to 5,357 in 2025. India remains home to the largest population with 3,167 tigers, followed by Russia (750), Indonesia (400) and Nepal, whose latest census now places it ahead of Indonesia. WWF Nepal Country Representative Dr Ghana Shyam Gurung hailed the rise as a 'collective conservation achievement,' crediting government leadership, community stewardship and collaboration across conservation partners. Conservationists cautioned that Nepal's forests are estimated to have a carrying capacity of around 400 tigers, meaning the latest population exceeds the habitat's sustainable limit. The increase has intensified concerns over human-tiger conflict, habitat fragmentation and poaching risks. Nepal currently has 16 'problem tigers'-animals involved in attacks, found injured or rescued from settlements-being housed in enclosures in Chitwan, Bardiya, Banke and the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel. To address the growing challenge, the government has proposed a 52-hectare Tiger Sanctuary in Devnagar, Chitwan, to rehabilitate injured and conflict-affected tigers while promoting eco-tourism. WWF Nepal said future efforts will focus on strengthening community forest user groups, buffer zone committees and local governments to improve coexistence. The organisation also plans to expand community-based monitoring, strengthen early warning systems and rapid response mechanisms, engage more young people in conservation, and mobilise greater private-sector investment.