The number of tigers in Parsa National Park has increased by four times over the last decade.

Eighteen adult tigers were spotted in the park this year, according to Samir Maharjan, chief conservation officer of the park.

“We used camera trapping method to count tigers from January to June and spotted 18 adult tigers,” said Maharjan.

The inspection team also found two cubs (nearly six months old) in Halkhoriya Daha, around 15 kilometres east of the park’s office.

“We have not taken the cubs into account since they can’t be included in the census of adult tigers,” Maharjan said.

Among the 18 adult tigers, five have been identified as male and 10 as female. “The remaining tigers are yet to be identified as they are young, just a little older than cubs,” said Maharjan.

In 2010, the park housed only four tigers, and the number increased to seven in 2013.

Ashok Kumar Ram, information officer at the park, said that the number of tigers increased after the park relocated human settlements that were inside the park’s territory.

“Our tiger conservation efforts have borne good results. We hope the count keeps increasing,” Ram said.

According to park officials, the challenges to conserve tigers are still aplenty—to save them from poachers and to manage sufficient prey for the animal is still a concern for the park.

The park covers an area of 627sq km and is spread across Parsa, Bara and Makwanpur districts. It is home to 300 bird, 32 mammal and 14 reptile species.