Narayangarh, November 5:

Preparations are underway for a fresh census of tigers in Chitwan National Park and other wildlife reserves of the country from November 15. In Nepal, tiger population is concentrated in Chitwan, Bardiya National Park and Shuklafanta Wildlife Reserve. Besides these parks and reserves, the census will also cover Parsa Wildlife Reserve and adjoining forests.

Planning officer at Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Dr Narerndra Man Babu Pradhan said the census would last three months.

For the census, Chitwan National Park has been divided into five blocks. Similarly, Bardiya, Shuklafanta and Parsa Wildlife Reserves have been divided into four, two and two blocks, respectively, Pradhan said.

The 2003 census had figured the number of Royal Bengal Tiger to be in between 300 and 350 in Nepal.