How to track and spot tigers in Bardia; Tigerland of Nepal?

How to track and spot tigers in Bardia; Tigerland of Nepal? 

Catching a glimpse of the magnificent big cat is the ultimate goal for many wildlife enthusiasts when they visit various national parks. People travel from all over the world to these parks in an attempt to see the tiger in the wild. Certain tactics can increase the chance of seeing a tiger, even though some people credit sightings to coincidence, the frequency of safaris, or trips to particular areas. Just before starting a tiger tracking tour in Nepal’s national park, it is necessary to familiarize oneself with the right techniques and suggestions. You need to have some tiger tracking tips while you are looking for them in the wilderness.

First Steps in the Tiger Tracking Process in Nepal

1. Choose the top tiger tracking tour operator:

Start by finding out the best and top wildlife safari operators (Tiger Encounter Pvt. Ltd). We provide visitors with an exceptional chance to see the amazing big five animals of Nepal in their natural environment. To optimize animal encounters, especially with tigers, snow leopards, red pandas, rhinos, and elephants, our crew takes satisfaction in assisting our guests in choosing the best spots to explore at the correct times. More importantly, we have been searching for and succeeding at wildlife-watching experiences in Nepal for more than a decade. We now know what adventures are all about and what Nepal has to offer those who want the finest. We operate luxury wildlife safari tours to some of Nepal’s most well-known wildlife hotspots for our visitors.

2. Select the best places for tiger sightings:

A successful tiger tracking trip requires choosing the right national park. According to the most recent tiger census report data from 2018, there are 355 tigers in Nepal, with 128 located in Chitwan National Park, 125 in Bardiya National Park, 41 in Parsa National Park, 25 in Banke National Park, and 36 in Shuklaphanta National Park. Among them, Chitwan and Bardia National Parks are the famous hotspots of the tigers in Nepal with more tiger sighting opportunities. Bardia National Park offers a slightly higher chance of seeing tigers in the wild, despite Chitwan National Park being the first and most popular national park in Nepal for wildlife viewing.

3. Gather information from research and wildlife lovers, and photographers:

Wildlife enthusiasts can benefit greatly from research social media platforms and interactions with wildlife photographers. Many tiger photographers and tourists use eye-catching images, captivating video clips, and interesting writings to share their tiger-spotting adventures in Nepal. People can learn a lot about different tiger habitats, photography methods, and suggested trip itineraries by following important hashtags, wildlife photography accounts, and travel blogs.

 4. Find out the local expert guide:

Locals with firsthand knowledge of the national parks and their surrounding areas can provide valuable information. They have expertise in the park’s landscape, the most ideal spot to see tigers and their animal behavior.

Naturalists and guides get together before the tiger safari to discuss sightings from past trips. They come up with a plan together to start by looking into particular areas. Additionally, safari groups interact with one another within the park, exchanging updates and recent sightings.

We, Tiger Encounter have an experienced team of wildlife specialists and nature guides at your service. Manju Mahatara, a native of Bardia is our leading nature guide. She is the expert tiger tracker with the highest tiger sightings in the area. No one in the park has seen the tiger multiple times as her.

Expert Ways and Tips for Tiger Tracking

A keen eye and an attentive ear are the most important while tracking tigers in the wild. Every blink of watchful eyes and sounds of nature matters a lot for witnessing the tiger.

1. Tiger Pug-marks/paw-prints:

Tigers mostly prefer to walk on open paths on the jeep track to prevent getting hurt by thorns on the ground beneath their feet and from the spider waves and bushes. The tigers are active in the dawn and dusk and wander around. They leave behind characteristic paw prints called pugmarks. It makes it easier for naturalists and guides to track and follow the new pugmarks along the jungle roads. Therefore it is recommended to join the first-morning tiger safari, which increases the chance of seeing a tiger.

2. Alarm calls:

While tigers move quietly through the dense jungle, other prey animals are alert. Langurs, monkeys, and deer act as watchers from their perch atop trees and are good at spotting predators. When they spot a tiger, they make alarm calls. Guides and naturalists pay close attention to these animals’ sound cues. With their alarm calls, ground-dwelling birds like red jungle fowl and peacocks also support the early warning system. By tracking the predator’s movements, these alerts assist in identifying its direction. As one waits at key locations directed by these alarm calls, patience is essential.

 3. Marking:

Tigers are territorial in nature and use a variety of strategies to keep potential attackers out of their territory. They use their claws to scratch trees or mark them with urine to indicate their territory boundaries. They also strategically place their feces, usually in the center or along pathways.  And then scrape the ground to make sure other tigers can see them. To track tigers, these markings are essential indicators. Scat or spray markings on trees are common indicators that naturalists and park guides look for. New markings indicate recent tiger activity because of their wetness.

 4. Fortune:

Without a doubt, wildlife rangers and naturalists work very hard to track tigers in an attempt to fulfill the visitors’ hopes of seeing the elusive animal. However, sometimes the tiger is not visible even after their hard work, patience, and long waiting times. Still, during the excitement, tourists frequently come across other fascinating sights in the jungle. On the other hand, unexpected things happen right when it looks like there is no hope left.

© Tiger Encounter

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Email: info@tigerencounter.com 

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