PM Oli highlights Nepal’s constraints in tiger conservation amid 'World Tiger Day' event

Kathmandu: Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli has stated that it is not feasible to indefinitely increase the number of tigers in Nepal. He made this remark while responding to questions from students at an event held in Lalitpur to mark World Tiger Day 2024.

Prime Minister Oli clarified that, given the size of Nepal’s forests and land area, it is not possible to protect an unlimited number of tigers. He noted that the government had already doubled the tiger population in 2010 as recognized internationally, and further doubling would lead to a situation where people might have to leave the country. He suggested that Nepal could consider distributing tigers to other countries.

Oli pointed out that the Amazon rainforest, which is 38 times larger than Nepal, is a more suitable habitat for tigers. He emphasized that to conserve tigers effectively, it is essential to address the conflict between wildlife and human populations. He argued that tigers require adequate space and a suitable environment for breeding, and therefore, their numbers should not be unlimited. Oli also mentioned that Nepal should not be overly focused on increasing the tiger population.

He further explained that India, with its larger area and forest resources, is capable of supporting more than 30 times the number of tigers compared to Nepal. He added that 46 percent of Nepal’s forests are fragmented, which limits the available habitat for tigers.