COMINGS AND GOINGS

NEW CAMERA TRAPPING YOU’VE SUPPORTED HAS REVEALED MORE ABOUT YOUR TIGERS’ MOVEMENTS

TigersY O U R U P D AT E

INSIDEALSO

BHUTAN’S BIG SUCCESS

FIGHTING FOR YOUR WORLD REGAINING HARMONY

WITH NATURE

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We’ve found new camera trap images of Kalika and her fellow tigers, helping to build an interesting pattern of their behaviour

his time, majestic Kalika was photographed with two of her three cubs. The cubs are around 12 months old now and will have grown their

canine teeth, enabling them to kill their own prey. Kalika showed up on the camera traps every few days or so, and in five different locations within the corridor, so she’s expanded her movements a little since our previous update. We also found new images of Shahipur Pothi with a young cub. We think the youngster is around 10-12 months old, which means it’s still reliant on its mother for food. Male tiger T12 has been sharing Shahipur Pothi’s territory, but he’s recently been roaming further afield. While Shahipur Pothi

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didn’t show up this time, suggesting they’ve moved through the corridor to either Bardia or Katerniaghat. This is another reminder of the corridor’s importance, both as a home for wild tigers and as a crucial route. Enabling the big cats to move freely to feed and breed is vital, as we strive to help double wild tiger numbers by 2022. With your help, we’re working hard to keep Khata corridor flourishing. For example, we recently restored important wetland areas used by tigers and other wildlife.

Khauraha river and other wetlands in the corridor have become increasingly dry and stagnant. This may be due partly to large-scale sand and gravel extraction further upstream, which is affecting the water flow. Invasive plant species are also a problem in the grasslands, and we’re in discussion with the government on how to address these serious issues. We’ll keep you posted on developments.

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raises her cub she’ll keep it hidden, and avoid any encounters with males until it’s fully-grown. We think that T12 is looking for a mate elsewhere, and that’s why he’s expanded his territory.

Another male, T10, seems to be sticking to the same six areas within the corridor. As you may remember reading, we suspect that this magnificent male is the father of Kalika’s cubs. His territory is rich in prey species, so he doesn’t have to roam far to find a meal.

Khata corridor links Bardia National Park in Nepal with Katerniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India. From our camera trap findings, we know that some tigers stay inside the corridor, such as Kalika, Shahipur Pothi, T12 and T10, whereas others use it to travel between the two protected areas. This was borne out by our latest camera trap survey. Four male tigers that were photographed previously

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COMPILED BY MAYA YOGI OF THE KHATA CORRIDOR PROJECT, WHICH YOU SUPPORT

YOUR FIELDREPORT

PROUD MUM

TIGERS PREFER AREAS WITH INTACT FOREST COVER AND GENERALLY AVOID PLACES DISTURBED BY PEOPLE. THIS SHOWS THE IMPORTANCE OF HAVING DEDICATED WILDLIFE CORRIDORS SUCH AS KHATA

DID YOUKNOW?

ENABLING THE BIG CATS TO MOVE FREELY TO FEED AND BREED IS VITAL, AS WE STRIVE TO HELP DOUBLE WILD TIGER NUMBERS BY 2022. WITH YOUR HELP, WE’RE WORKING HARD TO KEEP KHATA CORRIDOR FLOURISHING

HOW YOU’RE HELPING

You’ve helped fund essential new field equipment for the citizen

scientists who monitor your tigers

Strong shoes and waterproof jackets. These are just some of the essential items you’ve

helped provide. It was cold and rainy during the camera trap survey, so this new kit

was very gratefully received by the monitoring teams.

Thank you

Insets left and right: Male tiger T10 is staying in the same territory, whereas tiger T12 is expanding his range

Main: One of Kalika’s three cubs

Inset far left: The camera traps photographed Kalika at night

Inset left: Shahipur Pothi prowls the forest

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hree years after Bhutan announced it was adopting the world-renowned Conservation Assured Tiger Standards (CA|TS), two of its

parks have received CA|TS approved status. They are Royal Manas National Park – the country’s oldest park – and Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park, which are home to 15 and 14 individual tigers respectively. Gaining CA|TS approval shows that both parks meet high global standards in conservation management. This demonstrates the amazing difference strong conservation measures can make as we work to help the 13 tiger range countries double their wild tiger numbers by 2022.

In 2015, Bhutan carried out a national survey that estimated around 100 tigers to be living in the country’s pristine forests – with some big cats ranging as high as 4,000 metres above sea level! The country is planning to start a new national tiger survey in November, which should reveal any changes in the population.

To safeguard tigers living outside of protected areas, Bhutan is now working towards implementing CA|TS in three territorial forest divisions: in Paro, Sarpang and Zhemgang. We applaud this fantastic commitment and, with your brilliant support, we’ll go on doing everything we can to help Bhutan and other tiger countries achieve their goals. J

TOP CA TS

BHUTAN’S TIGER FEATICON OF HOPEFemale tiger Rewa (meaning Hope) is living proof that Bhutan is a safe haven for tigers. This magnificent mother lives in Jigme Singye Wangchuck National Park and was photographed by the camera traps in 2012, 2014 and 2019 – each time with a new set of cubs! You can see footage of remarkable Rewa and her family at:

wwf.org.uk/rewa

GREAT NEWS! BHUTAN HAS MOVED ANOTHER STEP CLOSER TO DOUBLING ITS WILD TIGER NUMBERS BY 2022

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THERE ARE 70 CA|TS SITES, REGISTERED ACROSS SEVEN COUNTRIES – BANGLADESH, BHUTAN, CHINA, INDIA, MALAYSIA, NEPAL AND RUSSIA

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Main: A 2014 camera trap photo of Rewa

Inset above: Rewa in 2019

Inset right: One of Rewa’s cubs

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WWF.ORG.HK• YOUR TIGERS UPDATE • ISSUE 21

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