The tiger population in Chitwan National Park (CNP) is gradually increasing, bringing Nepal's international pledge for such rare growth to realisation.

The CNP is tightening its grip on controlling the rampant poaching of the endangered species stoking a rise in the number of tigers inhabiting the national park.

At the International Tiger Conference held in St Petersburg in 2010, participating countries committed to doubling the tiger population by 2022. Nepal also pledged to double the tiger population.

The tiger population has now increased to 125 in CNP. The tiger population which had been counted at around 300,000 in the world 70 years ago fell to 3,000 by 2010.

In 2013, Nepal's tiger population had reached 198 which include 120 in CNP, 50 in Bardiya National Park, four in Banke National Park, seven in Parsa Wildlife Reserve and 17 at Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

The CNP-led census revealed that the tiger population increased in the next three years, CNP Chief Conservation Official, Ram Chandra Kandel, said. RSS