Chitwan, April 22

As many as four tigers have died in Chitwan National Park and the national forest zone in the past one month.

The deaths come at a time when the government is carrying out various measures to double the population of the rare species by 2022. Of them, two tigers died in the national park and two in the national forest zone.

According to assistant conservation officer and information officer of Chitwan National Park Nurendra Aryal, the body of a spotted female tiger was found in Gaighat in the eastern region of Sauraha today morning. “After looking at the tiger, it seems as if it had died during an encounter with another tiger. There are bruises and wounds on its neck and abdomen,” said Aryal.

Another body of a female tiger was also recovered from the nearby area on March 24. “Earlier, the bodies of two tigers were recovered from Panchakanya Community Forest on March 21 and on April 20,” he added.

Experts said the tigers might have died due to a clash or due to congestion caused by growing population of the species. “A tiger needs around 40 to 50 square kilometres area for itself. The national park covers an area of 952.63 square kilometres while the buffer zone covers an area of 729.37 square kilometres and the population of tigers is 120 in the area,” they said. Tigers attack other tigers when they attempt to enter their territory. Clashes between tigers are growing due to congestion and encroachment.