The Department of Forests and Park Services (DoFPS), in collaboration with WWF-Bhutan and Druk Holding and Investments Limited (DHI), commemorated Global Tiger Day 2026 at Sherubling Central School in Nubi Gewog, Trongsa Dzongkhag, under the theme “Securing the Future of Tigers with Local Communities at the Heart.”
Global Tiger Day is more than a celebration of an iconic species, it is a reaffirmation of our collective responsibility to conserve one of nature’s most magnificent predators and the healthy ecosystems upon which both wildlife and people depend. As an apex predator, the tiger symbolizes thriving forests, rich biodiversity, and resilient ecosystems. Bhutan remains one of the few countries in the world where tiger populations continue to flourish across an extensive network of protected areas and biological corridors. This remarkable achievement reflects the unwavering commitment of the Royal Government of Bhutan, the tireless efforts of field officials, the invaluable support of conservation partners, and above all, the enduring stewardship of communities that have coexisted with wildlife for generations.
This year’s celebration was hosted in Nubi Gewog, a significant landscape where communities continue to live alongside tigers despite the challenges of human-tiger conflict. The venue was chosen to recognize the resilience, tolerance, and conservation stewardship demonstrated by local communities, whose experiences highlight that sustained wildlife conservation is only possible when people remain at the centre of conservation efforts.
The event was graced by Lyonpo Gem Tshering, Honorable Minister for Energy and Natural Resources, and attended by senior government officials, local leaders, students, conservation partners, and community members.
A key highlight of the celebration was the launch of three pioneering initiatives aimed at strengthening human-tiger coexistence. These included the Tiger Impact Certificates (TICs), an innovative financing mechanism that supports community-led conservation and coexistence; RiKhaNet, a real-time integrated knowledge network designed to strengthen wildlife monitoring and evidence-based decision-making; and a strategic partnership between WWF-Bhutan and Yangphel Adventure Travel to support the development of the Nubi Tiger Coexistence Tourism Project. Together, these initiatives demonstrate how innovation, technology, and partnerships can complement traditional conservation approaches to create a future where both people and wildlife thrive.
The event also marked the launch of the Nature-Based and Wildlife Tourism Prospectus, a strategic investment and partnership roadmap for developing Bhutan’s flagship wildlife tourism destinations that integrate biodiversity conservation, community stewardship, and sustainable tourism while generating long-term conservation and livelihood benefits. In addition, the Conservation Assured | Tiger Standards (CA|TS) Certificate was awarded to Bumthang Forest Division by the Honorable Minister for Energy and Natural Resources. With this recognition, Bhutan now has five CA|TS-accredited tiger conservation sites, reaffirming the country’s commitment to international standards of effective tiger conservation.
The celebration concluded with vibrant cultural performances, presentations on project initiatives, community testimonies/experience-sharing on living alongside tigers, a youth perspective on human-tiger coexistence, and the presentation of prizes and certificates to the winners of the Human-Tiger Coexistence Art Competition and to the community and youth speakers.
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| Official launch of the Tiger Impact Certificate Project | Official Launch of RiKhaNet Project | |
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| MoU Signing between WWF-Bhutan and Yangphel Adventure Travels | Launch of Prospectus- a strategic document for investment and partnership blueprint for advancing nature-based and Wildlife Tourism as a sustainable conservation financing mechanism | |
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| CA|TS Certificate awarded to Bumthang Forest Division | Prizes awarded for Art Competition | |
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| Cultural performances by the local communities | ||
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