Preparations Finalized for Tiger Census in Banke, Bardiya, and Dang

Bardia National Park has announced the completion of all logistical arrangements for the upcoming tiger census in the Banke, Bardiya, and Dang districts. While the count was initially planned for earlier this month, technical adjustments have rescheduled the start date to Wednesday, December 24, 2025.

The census will employ advanced camera-trapping technology to monitor tiger populations across six designated blocks. For the first time, the survey will officially include the Dang district, where recent sightings near the Banke National Park border have prompted a closer look at local wildlife corridors.

A combined force of 56 technical personnel and park staff will lead the field operations, supported by the Nepal Army and three elephants for navigating dense jungle terrain. The technical team will utilize approximately 450 cameras to capture images over a 21-day period to estimate the current population and habitat health.

This survey is part of Nepal’s fifth nationwide tiger census, which officially launched in Chitwan earlier this month. The final results of this scientific effort are expected to be released on International Tiger Day in July 2026, providing a critical update to the 2022 figure of 355 tigers.