Vanishing Treasures programme
Globally, around one million plant and animal species are now threatened with extinction...
Human Wildlife Coexistence – Royal Bengal tigers in Bhutan
The Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris) is the most numerous of all the sub-species and inhabits Bangladesh, Bhutan, India, and Nepal. The Royal Bengal tigers mainly inhabit the tropical forests of the Indian sub-continent, but in Bhutan, they have been recorded as high as 4,500 meters above sea level.
Bhutan is home to about 780,000 people (World Bank, 2022) and an estimated 115-146 tigers, based on the latest survey (Bhutan Tiger Center, 2023). Compared with previous estimates, the tiger population in Bhutan has increased by 27% in the past 5 years – a win for conservation. However, this is not always perceived as a win for the people who share these spaces with tigers.
UNEP's Vanishing Treasures Programme is working to enhance the understanding of climate change impacts on the Royal Bengal tiger and its habitats, and to address knowledge gaps. This new knowledge will be integrated into the management of tiger habitats and to promote climate-smart conservation practices. Vanishing Treasures is also supporting communities living in close proximity to tiger habitats by implementing ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) on the ground to reduce impact and further pressure on tigers and their habitats.
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