Nepal’s population of the endangered Bengal tiger has increased to 429, according to the latest national tiger census released on Wednesday on the occasion of Global Tiger Day.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation unveiled the census results in Kathmandu in the presence of Minister for Agriculture, Forests and Environment Geeta Chaudhary.

Haribhadra Acharya, information officer at the department, said tiger numbers had increased in all national parks except Bardiya.

The biggest rise was recorded in Parsa National Park, where the tiger population increased to 71 from 41 in the 2022 census. In Banke National Park, the number rose to 51 from 25, while Shuklaphanta National Park recorded an increase from 36 to 50.

Bardiya National Park, however, saw a decline, with tiger numbers falling to 112 from 125 in the previous census.

The census was conducted using camera traps between December 31 and April 23.

The latest count found 145 tigers in Chitwan National Park and surrounding areas, up from 128 in the previous survey.

Chitwan has seen major fluctuations in tiger numbers over the past two decades. Around 2000, the park and surrounding forest areas had an estimated 60 tigers. The number increased to 91 in the 2009 survey and reached 120 in 2013. However, the 2018 census recorded a decline, with the population dropping to 93.

Following Chitwan, Bardiya has the second-highest tiger population in Nepal with 112 tigers, despite the recent decline.

Nepal recorded 355 tigers in the previous national census. The latest figure represents an increase of 74 tigers compared with the 2022 count.