Nepal, Feb. 22 -- During an event organised by the Ministry of Forests and Environment in December last year to reflect on Nepal's participation in COP29, Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli said that having 150 tigers in Nepal's forests was enough. "Let us gift tigers to our friendly nations. Protecting (all) tigers by endangering human lives is not possible," he declared.

Oli's remarks divided Nepali conservation professionals-foresters, park rangers and wardens, wildlife biologists and academicians alike. Many, including government officials working in the environment and conservation sector, view his argument as valid, while others don't see any problem with the number.

Oli's statement that increasing or even protecting the existing number...