National Tiger Survey (NTS)
©Department of Forests and Park Services
National Tiger Survey (NTS)
Tigers, one of the largest and most endangered carnivores, have seen a drastic decline in their population. Historically, there were around 100,000 tigers, but today, they number below 4000 and occupy only 7% of their original range. Besides habitat loss, increasing poaching activities in protected areas also threaten their survival. (Goodrich et al., 2015; Dinerstein et al., 2007; Goodrich et al., 2022; Wright 2010; Sharma et al., 2014)
Tiger with prominent stripes
Rangers setting up Camera Trap
Tiger Count
Bhutan’s tiger population estimate is now 131 individuals (95% CI: 115-146), a significant increase of 27% from the 2014-2015 estimate of 103 individuals (DoFPS 2015). This growth represents a remarkable achievement, with tiger numbers rising in various regions, including RMNP (from 15 to 29), PWS (1 to 6), PNP (0 to 3), Bumthang Division (2 to 21), and Dagana Division (0 to 4) compared to the NTS 2014-2015 data. Additionally, when compared to the estimate of 90 tigers in a study by Tempa et al. in 2019, the current figure shows a substantial 40% increase in Bhutan’s tiger population.
Instruments used for survey
Five different camera trap models, viz., Bushnell, CuddeBack, HCO-ScoutGuard, Reconyx (HC500 Hyperfire), and Panthera with a passive infrared system that is triggered by body heat as the animal passes in front of the sensor on the camera were used. Q-GIS software and Global Positioning System (GPS) were also used.
Area covered
The tiger density estimate in Bhutan is 0.23 tigers per 100 km, and the survey covered an area of 32,800 km2. Regions such as JSWNP, RMNP, PWS, Bumthang Forest Division, and Zhemgang Forest Division have a higher concentration of tigers, reaching up to two tigers per 100 km2. These results indicate that tigers are well-distributed across Bhutan, with a higher density observed in the central and interior parts of the country.
Report Findings
