Rare Behavior of Bardiya Tigers Revealed to the World
The BBC documentary ‘Tiger Island’ has brought global attention to Nepal’s tiger conservation success by showcasing rare behaviors of tigers observed in Bardiya National Park. The film highlights new findings, including female tigers taking care of cubs collectively and male tigers actively participating in cub protection. The tiger population has surged from 121 in 2010 to over 400 today, but managing human-wildlife conflict has become the primary challenge. Kathmandu, July 5.
Footage capturing previously undocumented and rare tiger behaviors in the wild has once again drawn worldwide focus on Nepal’s conservation achievements. The BBC documentary ‘Tiger Island: A Hidden World Revealed’, filmed in Bardiya National Park and its surrounding areas, presents extraordinary tiger behavior alongside Nepal’s community-based conservation model to a global audience. The documentary was specially screened on Wednesday at the Elphinstone Hotel in Thamel, Kathmandu, organized by Tourism Info Nepal. Over 100 representatives from the tourism, conservation, and government sectors attended the event.
Co-produced by BBC and PBS, the documentary was shot in remote river islands and community forest areas on the borders of Bardiya National Park. It follows the activities of female tigers named Goma, Mala, and Jugini, showcasing rare tiger behaviors. Notably, scenes depict female tigers collaboratively caring for cubs and male tigers actively protecting and nurturing the young, challenging conventional understandings about tiger behavior, as claimed by the film crew.
Beginning in late 2022, the BBC team conducted extensive studies and long-term filming of female tiger activities in Bardiya, successfully capturing new facts and footage. The use of drones, thermal cameras, night-vision technology, and detailed field tracking facilitated meticulous documentation of tiger behaviors. The second part of the documentary even displays rare nighttime hunting scenes inside Bardiya National Park. Former Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepkaraj Joshi praised the documentary’s role in promoting Nepal’s tiger conservation successes internationally.
He emphasized linking wildlife conservation to nature-based and sustainable tourism to strengthen Nepal’s position in the global market. Following the screening, a panel discussion moderated by Sajal Pradhan was held. Bardiya nature guides Sushila Mahtara and Manju Mahtara shared their experiences with tiger tracking, monitoring, and research during the documentary’s production. The discussion also highlighted the remarkable progress of Nepal’s tiger conservation journey. Participants noted that the tiger population has grown from 121 in 2010 to over 400 today, positioning Nepal as a leading example of successful tiger conservation worldwide. However, the increase in tiger numbers has brought new challenges in human-wildlife conflict management. They stressed that sustaining conservation achievements requires giving equal priority to the welfare, security, and participation of communities surrounding protected areas.