A Bit of History
Let’s take a brief step back into the recent past. At the beginning of this century, the tiger was on the brink of extinction. In Nepal too, numbers had dropped dramatically – from several thousand in the mid-20th century to only a few dozen by around 2010. Tigers were threatened in many ways, including habitat loss, poaching, and hunting.
Clearly, something had to be done. Since its founding in 2013, the Himalayan Tiger Foundation has focused its efforts on Bardiya National Park, in southwest Nepal on the border with India.
We have witnessed a significant increase in the number of tigers – so much so that in Bardiya the population has even tripled. In that sense, the mission has been a success: the tiger has been “saved”.
The tiger is not only a magnificent creature worthy of protection for its own sake – it also plays a vital role in the ecosystem. As an “umbrella species”, the tiger serves as an indicator for the health of the surrounding habitats and wildlife communities. Protecting the tiger’s environment automatically benefits other species living in the same ecosystem.
Our New Focus
The success of saving the tiger from extinction also brings new challenges. It is not uncommon for tigers – sometimes old or sick – to attack villagers. Understandably, this creates fear and resentment among local communities. The pressing question is: how do we deal with this “human-tiger conflict”?
Protecting the local population is crucial. People and wildlife must be able to live side by side without threatening each other. At the same time, we need to make successful wildlife management attractive for the communities around the national parks. Tourism offers an important opportunity: the chance to spot wild animals – especially tigers – draws visitors, and local people can benefit from this source of income.
That is why our new focus is “Boost Bardiya”: an comprehensive program of measures designed to make Bardiya National Park more than just a “wilderness filled with wildlife”.
