Kathmandu, Nepal’s remarkable tiger conservation success has once again captured international attention after a BBC wildlife documentary revealed rare and previously undocumented tiger behaviours filmed in and around Bardia National Park.

The documentary, “Tiger Island: A Hidden World Revealed,” showcases extraordinary footage of Bengal tigers recorded in the remote river islands and community forests bordering Bardia National Park. A special screening of the documentary was hosted by Tourism Info Nepal at Aloft Hotel in Thamel on Wednesday, drawing more than 100 participants from the tourism, conservation and government sectors.

Produced through a collaboration between the BBC and PBS, the film follows three female tigers—Goma, Mala and Jugini—and documents behavioural patterns that challenge long-held scientific assumptions about tiger social dynamics.

Among the documentary’s most striking discoveries are scenes showing female tigers cooperatively caring for cubs and, more unusually, a male tiger actively participating in protecting and raising offspring. According to the production team, such behaviour has rarely, if ever, been documented in the wild.

Filming began in late 2022, with the BBC crew spending months tracking female tigers across Bardia’s dense forests and riverine landscapes. The project employed drones, thermal imaging cameras, night-vision equipment and extensive field tracking to capture elusive wildlife behaviour. The documentary’s second episode also features rare nighttime footage of a tiger hunting inside the national park.

The screening was inaugurated by former Nepal Tourism Board CEO Deepak Raj Joshi, while former Minister for Women, Children and Senior Citizens Shraddha Shrestha and Rastriya Swatantra Party lawmaker Shridhar Pokharel were among the distinguished guests.

Speaking at the event, Joshi said the documentary would help bring Nepal’s tiger conservation achievements to a global audience and strengthen the country’s image as a premier destination for nature-based and sustainable tourism.

The screening was followed by a panel discussion moderated by Sajal Pradhan, featuring Bardia-based nature guides Sushila Mahatra and Manju Mahatra, who shared firsthand experiences of tracking tigers and supporting the documentary’s field production.

Panelists also highlighted Nepal’s remarkable conservation achievements, noting that the country’s wild tiger population has increased from 121 in 2010 to more than 400 today, making Nepal one of the world’s leading examples of successful tiger recovery.

However, speakers cautioned that the growing tiger population has also intensified human-wildlife conflict, emphasizing the need to balance conservation efforts with the safety, livelihoods and participation of communities living around protected areas.

Discussions further explored the close relationship between wildlife conservation and tourism, with participants arguing that Nepal’s conservation success—particularly in Bardia—has created new opportunities to promote high-value wildlife tourism internationally.

The event concluded with an interactive question-and-answer session, followed by the presentation of tokens of appreciation to panelists and distinguished guests.

Closing the programme, Tourism Info Nepal Managing Director Bishwa Bhandari thanked conservation partners, the BBC production team, local communities in Bardia and PBS for their contributions. He expressed confidence that initiatives showcasing Nepal’s wildlife stories on the global stage would strengthen biodiversity conservation while supporting the country’s sustainable tourism ambitions.