UPDATE OCTOBER 2013 My tigers YOUR ADOPTION UPDATE Conservation Climate Change Sustainability Great expectations in Nepal
David Lawson / WWF-UK Welcome Hello and welcome to your October tiger update, with all the latest news about these magnificent big cats. Inside, we re awaiting the patter of tiny paws. Plus, there s positive news about an increase in tiger numbers. Heather Sohl Chief adviser, species YOU RE MAKING A DIFFERENCE By adopting Kamrita, you re playing an important role in helping to protect all wild tigers. Your adoption funds vital programmes such as tackling poaching and the illegal trade in wildlife, restoring fragile tiger habitats, and helping to increase prey numbers. It also supports other essential conservation projects. Thank you. Project location Name: Kamrita, your adopted tiger (pronounced Kam-reet-a) Species: Bengal tiger Location: Chitwan National Park, Nepal Nepal Chitwan National Park My tigers October 2013 Page 2
Funds from your tiger adoption have helped provide 16 pairs of camera traps in Chitwan National Park. The cameras have been placed across 64 square kilometres of territory shared by Kamrita and her four-year old daughter Ranu. As you can see, they ve captured images of the two beautiful tigresses and lots of their wild neighbours, including rhinos, sloth bears, peacocks and Hanuman langurs. MY tigers field report ladies in waiting Latest camera trap images indicate that your adopted tiger and her daughter could both be pregnant! First-time mum Researchers are studying the images and think that both Kamrita and Ranu are showing signs of expecting. If they re right this will be Ranu s first ever litter, which is really exciting. A tiger s pregnancy lasts three and a half months, so if all goes well, by the time you get your next update the cubs will be here. Kamrita s male cubs are over two years old now and left her months ago to establish their own territory in the park. Female tigers give birth around every three years, so now would be around the right time for Kamrita to become a mum again. WWF-NEPAL Beautiful Kamrita was caught on camera My tigers October 2013 Page 3
MY tigers field report New neighbours The camera traps have also revealed that six new tigers are sharing Kamrita and Ranu s habitat. This is a really positive indication that our conservation efforts are working. The only possible downside to this is that your adopted tiger and her family could eventually have less space to roam, if their territory is invaded by other dominant tigers. WWF-NEPAL The camera traps are part of an overall monitoring strategy to keep the park safe for tigers. Rangers carry out regular patrols across vast areas, looking for physical traces of the big cats, such as pugmarks and scratches. They also check for signs of any poaching activity. So far this year no tigers have been poached in Chitwan National Park. But with several recent cases of tiger parts being seized in Nepal, it s vital that the rangers stay vigilant. Tiger adopters like you play a crucial part in supporting this ongoing monitoring. As well as the camera One of the six new tigers sharing Kamrita and Ranu s habitat traps, funds raised through your adoption help pay for crucial equipment such as tents, compasses and food for the rangers. Thank you. 64 SQ KM Funds from your tiger adoption have helped provide 16 camera traps across 64 sq KM of the park WWF-NEPAL The camera traps also captured images of rhino, jungle cat, peacock and Hanuman langur My tigers October 2013 Page 4
more great news from nepal! Nepal s latest tiger survey has revealed a remarkable increase in wild tiger numbers We re delighted at the recent announcement by the Government of Nepal, which estimates the number of wild tigers in the country to be 198. This marks a 63% increase in the population since the last survey in 2009. Nepal s results are an important milestone in reaching the global goal of doubling the number of wild tigers by the year 2022, says Megh Bahadur Pandey, Director General of Nepal s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. Tigers are a part of Nepal s natural wealth and we are committed to ensuring these magnificent wild cats have the prey, protection and space to thrive. On the up The survey, which we helped support, was carried out in the Terai Arc. It included Chitwan National Park, where your adopted tigress Kamrita and her family live. The park is home to the country s largest number of wild tigers, and numbers there have increased from 91 in 2009 to 120. The Terai Arc is a vast region stretching 600 miles across 15 protected areas in Nepal and India. For the first time ever, Nepal and India worked together using the same system. A joint report will be The number of wild tigers in Nepal is up by 63% meet a tiger tracker MY tigers NEWS released later this year and is expected to provide a landscape-wide estimate of tiger numbers as well as giving us a better understanding of their movements. We ll bring you the results as soon as we can. Bishnu Bahadur Lama is one of the intrepid tiger trackers who took part in Nepal s recent survey. You can find out what life s like out in the field on the trail of these amazing yet elusive cats by reading his blog at: wwf.org.uk/tigertracker NATUREPL.COM / ANDREW PARKINSON / WWF-CANON My tigers October 2013 Page 5
Tigers in numbers 2.4-3.1 metres Bengal tigers can measure 2.4-3.1 metres from the tips of their ears to the end of their tails 1,700 There are around 1,700 tigers in India MY tigers OCTOBER 2013 9-19KM A tiger will typically travel 9-19km during a night s hunting Why we are here To stop the degradation of the planet s natural environment and to build a future in which humans live in harmony with nature. wwf.org.uk WWF-UK, registered charity number 1081247 and registered in Scotland number SC039593. A company limited by guarantee number 4016725 1986 panda symbol and WWF Registered Trademark of WWF-World Wide Fund For Nature (formerly World Wildlife Fund), WWF UK, The Living Planet Centre, Rufford House, Brewery Road, Woking, Surrey GU21 4LL, t: +44 (0)1483 426333, e: supportercare@wwf.org.uk, wwf.org.uk 20-30 The Amur tiger has made a spectacular comeback since the 1930s, when the population fell as low as 20-30 animals Cover image: SUZI ESZTERHAS / FLPA This page: martin harvey / wwf-canon WWF.ORG.UK