Nepal counts a record 429 wild tigers. Now comes the hard part
The latest national count found 429 tigers, with 145 in Chitwan alone. It is a conservation win that also raises tough questions about space and safety.
Not long ago, Nepal’s tigers were in real trouble. Today the country has more of them than at any time since counting began.
The numbers
The national survey for 2025 to 2026 counted 429 wild tigers in Nepal. Chitwan National Park is home to 145 of them, up from 128 in the 2022 count. Nepal’s first national park, set up in 1973 and listed by UNESCO in 1984, remains the heart of the country’s tiger story.
Why it is a big deal
Tigers need large, healthy forests full of deer and wild boar. A growing tiger population is a sign that protection against poaching, community forest management and cooperation between park staff and local people are working. It is also great news for wildlife tourism in Chitwan, Bardiya and Banke.
The hard part
More tigers in the same amount of forest means more chance of meeting people. Conservationists quoted by the Kathmandu Post say habitat is becoming a real concern, and villages on the edge of parks live with the risk every day. Keeping both tigers and people safe will need more space for wildlife, faster compensation for losses and better early warning systems.
Visiting Chitwan?
- Go with a licensed nature guide for jungle walks. Never wander off the trail alone.
- The park entry fee is NPR 2,000 per day for foreigners, NPR 1,000 for SAARC nationals and NPR 150 for Nepalis.
- The best time for wildlife viewing is after mid-October, when the monsoon is over and the grass starts to dry.
Spotting a tiger is never guaranteed, and that is part of the magic. But knowing that 145 of them are out there in Chitwan makes every walk feel a little more exciting.
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