Nepal has nearly doubled its tiger population in less than a decade

Thanks to sustained and successful conservation efforts, Nepal is on track to hit its goal of doubling the country's tiger population by 2022.

A recent tiger survey found that there are an estimated 235 tigers living in the wild in Nepal, up from 121 in 2009. In 2010, representatives from the 13 countries where tigers roam wild met in St. Petersburg for a summit, and they agreed to try to double the world's tiger population within 12 years. It's believed that worldwide, there are only 3,900 tigers in the wild.

The main threats tigers face are poaching and a loss of habitat, and Nepal is showing other countries what can be done when there's an increase in anti-poaching efforts and policing at national parks. Bishwa Nath Oli, secretary of Nepal's ministry of forests and environment, said that "protecting tigers is a top priority of the government," and the country's World Wildlife Federation representative, Dr. Ghana Gurung, declared that "every tiger counts, for Nepal and for the world."

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