Two camera traps set up for the tiger census in Bardiya have been damaged.

According to Ajit Tumbahamphe, head of the Bardiya Conservation Programme under the National Trust for Nature Conservation, one camera was destroyed by a tiger, while another was tampered with by an unknown wildlife and failed to open.

Meanwhile, the first phase of the census covering 225 grids in eight blocks has been completed. This phase included Bardiya National Park, Khata Biological Corridor, Dalla, Karnali Chisapani, Khayar Bhatti, Bhurigaun, Rammapur, and Thumni areas.

The second phase of the census will begin in Banke and Dang. The tiger census, which started on December 24, was conducted jointly by the Department of Wildlife, World Wildlife Fund, the National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepali Army, and the Anti-Poaching Youth Campaign, using technical teams and camera traps.

In 2022, 125 tigers were recorded in Bardiya, covering 968 sq km, including the national park, buffer zones, and biological corridors. The tiger population is expected to increase this year.