The tiger population in the country has increased by 21 in last two years. With the increase, the total tiger population in the country has reached 177 in the year 2012 from 155 in the year 2010.

The latest tiger population in the country was revealed by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DoNPWC) in coordination with the National Trust for Nature Conservation on the occasion of 3rd Global Tiger Day on Sunday.

The overall increase in tiger population was possible because the tiger population in the Bardiya National Park (BNP), a wildlife reserve chiefly meant for the endangered big cats in the country, has increased more than two fold in last three years.

As per the figures provided by the DoNPWC, the total number of tigers in the BNP, which stood at 18 during the nationwide census conducted in 2009, has increased to 38 in the census conducted in April 2012. Similarly, as per the census, the tiger population in the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR), which stood at 8 in 2009, has reached 10.

However, the tiger count is yet to be conducted in two other tiger habitats – Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Parsa Wildlife Reserve (PWC).

It should be noted that CNP is host to biggest number of this endangered species in the country – around 121 tigers prowl in the Chitwan jungles.

Nepal has aimed to double the population of the big cats in the country by 2022.

Meanwhile, on the occasion of 3rd Global Tiger Day, Rajesh Hamal, the superstar of Nepali film industry, was declared as the WWF Goodwill Ambassador for the preservation of tigers by WWF Nepal at a programme held in the capital. Nepalnews.com