Nepal's tiger census reaches 429 — a record count
Published · Researched 2026-09-22
What happened (dated facts)
On 29 July 2026, WWF Nepal reported the results of Nepal's national tiger census: an estimated 429 tigers, up from 355 in the 2022 census, across five protected areas (Chitwan, Bardia, Parsa, Banke and Shuklaphanta). The census used camera-trap grids across the Terai Arc Landscape.
Why it is genuinely positive
Nepal has nearly doubled its tiger population in a decade and a half, putting it far ahead of the global Tx2 goal of doubling wild tigers — one of the clearest large-carnivore recoveries on Earth.
Social pulse
WWF Canada amplified the result on LinkedIn; conservation outlets and Nepali media celebrated the new national record.
Verified quotes
None captured.
Verification
- Tier: 2
- Primary source: WWF Nepal announcement, 2026-07-29, https://www.wwfnepal.org/?397336%2F — 429 tigers, up from 355 in 2022.
- Social sources: WWF Canada LinkedIn post (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/nepals-tiger-count-results-wwf-canada-wab4c); conservation press coverage.
- Positivity check: Unambiguous census record. Passed.
Key facts
| Fact | Value | Source | Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2026 estimate | 429 tigers | WWF Nepal | 2026-07-29 |
| 2022 estimate | 355 | WWF Nepal | 2022 |
| Surveyed areas | 5 protected areas, Terai Arc | WWF Nepal | 2026-07-29 |
| Method | Camera-trap census | WWF Nepal | 2026 |
UNVERIFIED points
- Exact per-park breakdown: not published in the sources reviewed. UNVERIFIED.
Sources
- Primary source: WWF Nepal announcement, 2026-07-29 — retrieval date not recorded
- Social sources: WWF Canada LinkedIn post ( — retrieval date not recorded