As Bhutan observed World Tiger Day yesterday, we had a good reason to celebrate. Our tiger conservation efforts, coupled with a wide range of other environmental commitments, such as the constitutional mandate to maintain a minimum 60 percent forest cover for all times, carbon neutrality, and wildlife conservation, among others, have produced remarkable results.
According to the latest tiger survey conducted in 2021-22, the tiger population in the country increased by 27 percent since 2015. Today, Bhutan is home to an estimated 131 tigers, up from 103 in 2015. This is an incredible success story. The global population of this endangered species is estimated at 5,574.
Bhutan’s wide network of protected areas and biological corridors, covering 52 percent of the country, also plays a vital role in this conservation success. These protected areas provide a safe haven, not only for tigers to survive but also thrive.
Recent recordings have also shown tigers freely moving around the forests of Bhutan and also trans-migrating between Sikkim and Bhutan. In fact, tigers have been found at altitudes as high as 4,400 metres in the country. These findings only reinforce that Bhutan is a critical source site for tiger population in the region.
Our local cultures and spiritual beliefs also partly contribute to the conservation of this apex carnivore. Add to it the stringent laws on protection of endangered species. Bhutan’s penal code classifies killing of tiger as a fourth-degree felony while the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017 imposes a hefty fine of Nu 1 million for the crime.
However, this success has also brought challenges. The rising tiger population has also meant a corresponding increase in human-tiger- conflicts. Tiger dense dzongkhags like Trongsa have recorded approximately 580 livestock depredations by tigers between 2020 and 2024, with Nubi gewog alone reporting 360 cases.
This sharp rise in tiger-human conflicts poses significant threats to the livelihoods of communities. This also raises the longstanding question of striking a fine balance between conservation and livelihood protection – an approach that protects the tigers and safeguards the livelihoods of people living in tiger-rich habitats.
One of the key and urgent measures that needs to be implemented is the compensation and insurance schemes for livestock losses due to human-wildlife conflicts. Currently, affected communities are not retaliating against wildlife predations. But for how long? A real tragedy would unfurl if communities start retaliating against wildlife attacks.
The recent tiger conference held in Paro that aimed at raising USD 1 billion for tiger conservation is a timely initiative. This fund will be crucial in supporting measures to mitigate human-tiger conflicts, improve livestock protection methods, develop compensation schemes for affected communities, and enhance awareness about tiger conservation, among others.
As a conservation leader, Bhutan has been an exemplary role model to the world. Yet, the conservation journey hasn’t been without challenges. The human-tiger conflict is just another classic case of how we must tread the tightrope, maintaining that delicate balance between conservation and the well-being of communities.
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