Retrieving and studying captured picture of tigers begins

Kanchanpur - The process of retrieving and studying pictures of tigers captured through the camera trapping method as part of tiger census conducted recently in the Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP), the District Forest Office and Jogbudha area has begun, said the SNP officials. 

"We will match captured picture of a tiger with that of another to make sure no repetition takes place," said assistant conservation officer at the SNP Gopal Bahadur Ghimire. 

The number of tigers in the SNP will be figured out after the study is concluded, he said. He however said the number of tigers in the SNP has increased as compared to the past. 
The census team was divided into the total 11 groups that counted tigers simultaneously (four groups for the SNP, four groups for DFO and three groups for Jogbudha area). The total 90 officials were deployed for the count along with four tamed elephants. 

Equipments like automated 60 pairs of cameras and suunto compasses were used. 
The number of Royal Bengal tigers rose to 17 in the SNP in 2013 from 10 in 2009. The government aims to double the number of tigers in Nepal.