BHIMDUTTANAGAR: The counting of tigers in the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve began from Monday.

The Reserve Office and the National Trust for Nature Conservation are working jointly in the headcount of big cats in the reserve.

Reserve Chief Conservation Officer Ved Kumar Dhakal said 'camera trapping' method has been used to count the tiger population.

Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation's Deputy Director General Dr Maheshwor Dhakal inaugurated the counting drive amidst a programme here today.

On the occasion, he directed deputed enumerators to carry out duty honestly.

Though the Shuklaphanta Reserve still remains as the major habitat for tigers, an open border with India is one of the challenges for controlling its poaching.

The government hopes to see an increase in the number of tigers by a two-fold by 2022 AD.

The counting will run for the 15 days.

The 40-member enumerators' team also comprises security personnel and local students.

Eighty-six pairs of automatic cameras have been used in the counting in the reserve that spreads to 305 square kilometers of land.

As many as 17 tigers were found in last year’s census.