Long-Term Tiger Monitoring Project
RTT continues to champion the Long-Term Tiger Monitoring Project, a landmark conservation effort launched by the International Trust for Nature Conservation (ITNC), Funds for the Tiger (FFTT), and the Nepal Tiger Trust. This initiative has been pivotal in protecting and understanding Nepal’s tiger population.
Since 1975, a small team of dedicated wildlife technicians has systematically camera-trapped tigers across Chitwan National Park. Their work has produced the most comprehensive dataset ever compiled on tiger ecology, revealing critical insights into:
- Territorial dynamics — how tigers establish and defend their ranges
- Turnover and reproduction — tracking generations over time
- Turnover and reproduction — tracking generations over time
- Survival rates — measuring long-term population health
This unparalleled research has become the backbone of science-led management in Nepal’s protected areas, directly informing tiger conservation strategies. By combining rigorous field data with real-world protection efforts, the Long-Term Tiger Monitoring Project remains essential to securing the future of Nepal’s tigers — safeguarding them as keystone species and guardians of the country’s ecosystems.
Jatayu Vulture Restaurant
Back in the 1980s, Nepal’s skies were filled with millions of vultures. However, the South Asia vulture crisis of the 1990s, triggered by the veterinary drug diclofenac, devastated populations across the region. Nepal is home to nine vulture species, eight of which are listed as threatened or near threatened under the IUCN Red List. Today, Nepal’s vulture population has declined to around 20,000 individuals, underscoring the urgent need for conservation.
The Responsible Tourism Trust (RTT) is closely associated with the Jatayu Vulture Restaurant, a pioneering joint venture with Bird Conservation Nepal in Chitwan. This initiative introduces guests to the alarming plight of vultures while actively supporting their recovery.
The vulture feeding centre delivers multi-faceted benefits:
– Provides a safe, non-toxic food source for vultures by rescuing and caring for old cattle
– Generates income for local communities through homestays, guiding, and eco-tourism activities
– Raises awareness among visitors, inspiring support for vulture conservation and regeneration
Through these efforts, RTT and its partners are helping ensure that Nepal’s vultures, nature’s vital cleanup crew continue to play their crucial role in maintaining healthy ecosystems.
Tiger Tops Anti-Poaching Network
RTT’s anti-poaching initiatives are made possible through the support of Fund for the Tiger (FFTT), a charitable NGO established in the United States by a Tiger Tops guest/patron.
Since 1996, FFTT has raised substantial funding to strengthen the anti-poaching work of Nepal’s Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and the Department of Forests in key tiger habitats, including Chitwan, Bardia, and Suklaphanta.
Nepal had just 121 tigers in 2010 — by 2022, that number had surged to a remarkable 355 given the global decline in tiger habitats and populations. Experts attribute the population increase to effective anti-poaching measures, habitat restoration, prey population recovery, expansion of national parks and the establishment of wildlife corridors with India.
Beyond national-level efforts, FFTT and RTT also invest in community-based anti-poaching programmes. Buffer zones include Meghauli and Amaltari Buffer Zones in Chitwan and the Dalla community forests of Bardia. This grassroots approach not only protects tigers but also empowers local communities to become custodians of Nepal’s natural heritage.
Assistance to Local Conservation Efforts
Through the Responsible Tourism Trust (actively supports local conservation efforts throughout Nepal. In Chitwan and Bardia National Parks, the RTT funds the salaries of Buffer Zone guards, providing essential protection for wildlife at the community level. Working in close partnership with park authorities, RTT also contributes vehicles, boats, elephants, and skilled personnel for patrols and wildlife monitoring, bolstering Nepal’s frontline defense against threats to biodiversity.
Similarly, guests at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge directly supported park protection, including the donation of a motorbike to the National Park, improving ranger mobility.
Community Engagement & Education
RTT mobilizes Lodge naturalists to conduct wildlife workshops for schoolchildren, organize butterfly monitoring programmes, and run youth training initiatives to inspire the next generation of environmental stewards.
Scientific Contributions
Each January, RTT with support from Tiger Tops provides logistical support for the Asian Waterfowl Census, an international initiative tracking migratory bird populations across Nepal’s wetlands. This involvement ensures Nepal’s data contributes meaningfully to global waterfowl conservation efforts.
