Nepal Announces Its Tiger Population Has Nearly Tripled Since Record Low In 2010

But while that number indicates an uncertain future for tigers, CNN reported that it's a significant improvement over how dire the species' outlook seemed a decade ago.

According to The Guardian, this was particularly true in Nepal, where just 121 tigers once

roamed the nation.

As Ginette Henley from the World Wildlife Fund put it, "In 2010, it was clear we were going to lose tigers unless we made a concerted effort to turn things around."

And in a July 29 statement from the World Wildlife Fund, they relayed an announcement from Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba that since this program was put into place, Nepal's tiger population has increased by 190%.

This brings the total of wild tigers to 355, which you'll notice is nearly triple the number seen in 2010.

According to The Guardian, Nepal not only instituted a crackdown on poaching, but also expanded the number of national parks to serve as habitats where the tigers can roam freely.

Also helping matters was the establishment of wildlife corridors to India. These are safe passages for animals to help them avoid what would otherwise be busy roads and highways.

In Henley's words, "Communities are the driving force behind this. They are employed to do reforestation, maintain that habit, and are directly involved in conservation.”

The rise in tiger numbers have also resulted in a rise in tiger attacks and the loss of livestock. And since similar issues in India have resulted in reprisals against the tigers, Henley is pushing for a more holistic approach before similar violence arises in Nepal.

CNN reported that measures like predator-proof fencing and lighting the perimeters of villages have helped to ward off tigers, but Henley said monitoring programs and compensation plans for lost livestock are also needed to prevent tensions from escalating.

As she put it, "Unless people living with tigers want them there, we’re not gonna have them there."

h/t: CNN, The Guardian