Kathmandu, Nepal, July 29, 2023: World Tiger Day is being marked across the world including in Nepal with various programs today.
The government Nepal has set the theme of this year's World Tiger Day as 'Human-Tiger Coexistence'.
The Ministry of Forests and Environment has organized a special program at the zoo in Jawalakhel, Lalitpur to mark the festival. On this occasion, a ten-year action plan related to tigers is being announced.
The protection of the spotted tiger, which is found in 13 countries of the world, is seen as an interest and concern all over the world. Apart from Nepal, spotted tigers are found in India, China, Bhutan, Bangladesh, Vietnam, Myanmar, Malaysia, Indonesia, Thailand, Laos and Russia.
In 2010, a conference of the heads of state and government of 13 tiger-loving countries in St. Petersburg pledged to double the number of tigers by 2022. Although the commitment was made to double, the number of tigers has increased almost threefold.
In the count of tigers in 2009, the number of tigers in Nepal was 121, but in 2022, the goal was to double that to 242, but it has almost tripled. According to the national tiger census conducted in 2022, the number of tigers in Nepal has reached 355.
With the increase in the number of tigers, the challenge for their management and reduction of human damage has been added. In Nepal, 58 people have died due to tiger attacks in five years.
On the occasion of World Tiger Day 2023, President Ramchandra Paudel today issued a message of greetings and said that the protection of tigers will be important for tourism promotion and economic development of Nepal. In addition, he has also called upon the related agencies, public and conservation workers to take part in the sustainable management of tiger conservation.
"As Nepal has played a leading role in the world in tiger conservation, I would like to express my special thanks to the conservationists, security personnel, local residents who participate in public participation, media workers and supporting organizations," President Paudel said in his congratulatory message. It has helped to make the habitat safe.
In order to reduce the conflict between tigers and humans and to reduce the dependence of local residents on forest products, it is essential to take special initiatives for conducting alternative livelihood programs.
In his congratulatory message, he also mentioned that the role played by the related agencies of Nepal to control the poaching of tigers and the illegal trade of tiger parts is a worthwhile initiative in the global tiger conservation campaign.
