Chitwan, January 22

The tracking of Royal Bengal tigers began today in Chitwan National Park by using camera trap method.

Camera trapping is a globally preferred method for tracking down the movement of animals by installing cameras deep inside the jungle. Chitwan National Park has used high-tech cameras to monitor the movement of the endangered wild cats in order to estimate their population, said Chief Conservation Officer at the park Ramchandra Kandel.

“Camera trapping method is so reliable that pictures of tigers are automatically taken as they come across the cameras. Also, there is a slim chance of capturing the same tiger in another camera as the experts later examine and assess the animals’ footsteps,” added another conversationalist Prakash Shrestha.

“Formulation of a special strategy aimed at conserving tigers is also being mulled,” informed Phadindraraj Kharel, director general of Wildlife Department at the park. Various organisations have mobilised technicians in several places of the park to monitor tigers and their habitat. As per the last tiger census in 2013, as many as 198 Royal Bengal Tigers are found in Nepal, and Chitwan National Park alone houses 120 of them.