Tigers Spotted in Nepal’s Mid-Hills
Why this is here: The camera traps recorded a tiger and a leopard using the same camera, revealing intense competition for resources in the Chure belt and highlighting a complex ecosystem.
Three Bengal tigers were officially recorded in Nepal’s Palpa and Arghakhanchi districts. The tigers were identified through camera traps at altitudes exceeding 1,100 metres. This marks a range expansion beyond their traditional habitat in the Tarai lowlands.
Researchers from Tribhuvan University conducted the study to assess wildlife occupancy in Lumbini province. One tiger was recorded near Mathagadhi Fort in Palpa at 1,110 metres.
Another was captured in Tinau Rural Municipality at 536 metres. A third tiger was sighted in Arghakhanchi’s Shitganga Municipality at 934 metres.
The research team deployed 94 camera traps across the Chure range and community forests. The cameras captured images of tigers and leopards, indicating competition for resources.
Local residents report previously hearing rumours of tigers, now confirmed by scientific data. Nepal’s tiger population has increased from 121 in 2009 to 355 in 2022.