Nepal Prepares for Major Tiger and Rhino Census Despite Funding Challenges
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📰 The quick summary: Nepal is preparing to conduct its latest tiger and rhino population counts starting between December 2025 and March 2026, helping track conservation progress despite funding challenges and monitoring difficulties.
📈 One key stat: Nepal doubled its tiger population to 355 individuals in 2022, marking a remarkable 190% increase since the 2009 census, demonstrating the country’s successful conservation efforts.
💬 One key quote: “Given the numerous delays for the census this year, we are planning to begin the tiger survey in December and rhino count in March,” said Haribhadra Acharya, information officer and senior ecologist at DNPWC.
1️⃣ The big picture: Nepal is set to conduct crucial tiger and rhino population surveys starting between December 2025 and March 2026, following several delays. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation will collaborate with partner organizations to count animals across five tiger-bearing and four rhino-bearing national parks, including Chitwan, which hosts most of Nepal’s rhinos. Despite funding challenges after USAID’s withdrawal, the government has secured alternative financial support from WWF Nepal, the Zoological Society of Nepal, and the National Trust for Nature Conservation. The surveys are vital for monitoring the country’s significant conservation achievements, which include doubling tiger numbers and increasing rhino populations by 16% in recent years.
2️⃣ Why is this good news: Conservation efforts in Nepal have yielded impressive results, with tiger populations doubling to 355 individuals since 2009, representing a 190% increase. Rhino numbers grew by 16% between 2015 and 2021, reaching 752 individuals. These surveys help maintain this positive momentum by providing accurate population data to guide protection strategies. The conservation team is exploring innovative counting methods, including molecular technology using dung DNA analysis and mark-recapture techniques with photographs. The potential implementation of these scientific approaches in future censuses could improve accuracy while reducing costs and risks associated with traditional head-counting methods.
3️⃣ What’s next: Officials plan to update the Tiger and Prey Base Monitoring Protocol, extending camera trapping duration from two to three weeks for more effective monitoring. The team will explore molecular technology using dung DNA analysis as a potential future method for rhino population estimation. This year’s census will serve as a testing ground to develop safer, more secure, and scientifically robust approaches for future wildlife counts.
Read the full story here: Mongabay – Amid challenges, Nepal plans its latest tiger & rhino counts
