Yangyel Lhaden

To mark Global Tiger Day, the World Wildlife Fund Bhutan and the Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS) launched a new project in Bumthang to protect tigers beyond the country’s protected areas.

The three-year project aims to enhance the Bumthang Forest Division’s capacity to maintain undisturbed habitats for ecologically significant wildlife by engaging local communities.

According to the National Tiger Survey 2022-23, Bumthang, Dagana, and Zhemgang divisions have some of the highest tiger populations outside the protected areas, with tiger density of more than two individuals per 100 square metres.

Bumthang Forest Division saw an increase in tiger numbers, from two in the 2014-15 survey to 21 in 2021-22 survey.

With the overall tiger population rising from 103 in 2015 to 131 in 2023, human-tiger conflicts have also correspondingly increased. Nubi gewog in Trongsa reported 360 such cases.

Bumthang has recorded fewer cases. Lower parts of Chumey gewog in Bumthang are particularly affected by human-tiger conflicts.

Mangmi Kelzang Dorji of Chumey said that the gewog received tiger attack reports only from members of the Gewog Tiger Tshogpa (GTT), leaving the actual magnitude of the problem unclear. “Since GTT’s inception in 2021, we have provided consolation money to three beneficiaries who lost their cattle to tigers.”

However, the compensation is minimal, with only Nu 5,000 provided per loss, which does not cover the actual value of the cattle lost to tiger attacks.

“That’s why not many people come forward to register with GTT,” Kelzang Dorji said. “I hope this new project coming to our village will address these issues and offer more substantial benefits to farmers.”

While emphasising the importance of protecting tigers to prevent them from becoming extinct, he also stressed on the need to ensure the safety of people and adequate compensation for farmers. “In every situation, farmers are at a disadvantage. For example, if farmers kill a tiger to protect livestock, they could face imprisonment,” he said.

Tiger is a flagship species and is classified as a totally protected species under the Forest and Nature Conservation Rules and Regulations of Bhutan 2017. Any offense against these protected species is graded as a fourth-degree felony under the Penal Code.

Hunting, killing, capturing, or collecting any protected species of wild animals or plants is illegal, as per section 490 of the Penal Code of Bhutan 2004.

The DoFPS recorded 15 wildlife crimes involving tigers last year, with cases related to illegal trade of tiger bones and skins.

Of these, eight offenders are currently serving prison sentences ranging from one to five years, while seven cases are under prosecution.

In 2021, 16 offenders involved in tiger bone and skin cases were recorded, with offenders serving prison terms ranging from one to five years. No illegal wildlife case was recorded in 2020 due to Covid-19, according to DoFPS. 

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