Diet and Prey Preference of Tigers in and Around Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Assessing the diet of apex predators such as tiger is important, as it provides key ecological information on prey availability and preferences. It helps to understand the effects of conservation strategy and secure the long-­ term survival of tigers in the area. In this research, we identified the diet composition of tigers via DNA metabarcoding and microscopy analysis of scat samples collected during the dry season of 2024 in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park and Buffer Zone area. The scat analysis showed spotted deer dominated the tiger diet, comprising the highest frequency and percentage of occurrences in scats with greater relative biomass consumed. No trace of livestock was detected in the scats analyzed. Specifically, tigers preferred medium-­ sized prey (e.g., hog deer, wild boar, and spotted deer). The study identified seven prey species in the tiger diet analyzed through DNA metabarcoding and microscopic hair analysis; however, the type and proportion of their contents varied between the methods. The diet composition of tigers in the national park comprised a significantly higher number of species (n=7) than in the buffer zone area (n=3), indicating the park as a better tiger habitat providing a variety of prey (diet) available in the park with a higher opportunity of food choices. This study provides important insights for the population recovery of tigers in protected areas, improving prey abundance in the natural habitat, and limiting human-­ tiger conflict in the buffer zone.