The Bengal tiger population at the Suklaphanta Reserve has been cut by at least 30 per cent in the last few years, according to a WWF survey.

Officials believe that poachers are almost certainly responsible and that there may be only 6-14 tigers left at the Eastern Himalayan site compared to 20-50 in 2005.

The estimates are based on the results of a long-term WWF camera trap study which almost ironically captured images of armed men on poaching expeditions rather than tigers.

The wild Bengal tiger in India is hurtling towards extinction and an Indian government survey last year revealed that there may be as few as 1,500 left, reports the Telegraph.

The scientific survey was ordered after it emerged that one of India's leading tiger reserves, Sariska in Rajasthan, had been completely emptied of tigers by poachers, provoking a national scandal.

Suklaphanta shares an international border with India which allows easy and untraceable transportation of wildlife contraband.

Last May, two tiger skins and nearly 70lbs of tiger bones were seized from the border town of Dhangadi and last month, two separate raids recovered tiger bones being smuggled by local middlemen through the reserve.

When a tiger is poached virtually no evidence is left behind because unlike other species - such as the rhino where only the horn is removed - all its parts are in high demand. The skin, bones and teeth are all used in traditional Chinese medicine and some parts even end up in Tiger Wine sold to tourists.

Jon Miceler, managing director of WWF's Eastern Himalayas Programme, said: "The loss of tigers in Suklaphanta is undoubtedly linked to the powerful global mafia that controls illegal wildlife trade.

"The evidence suggests that Nepal's endangered tigers are increasingly vulnerable to this despicable trade that has already emptied several Indian tiger reserves-clearly, this is symptomatic of the larger tiger crisis in the region. We need a stronger, more sustained response to this issue in order to protect the future of tigers in the wild."

Dr. Sybille Klenzendorf, director of WWF's Species Conservation Programme, said: " Every tiger lost to poaching pushes this magnificent animal closer to extinction, Tigers cannot be saved in small forest fragments when faced with a threat like illegal wildlife trade-this is a global problem that needs the concerted effort of governments, grassroots organizations and all concerned."

Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve is 117 sq miles and is home to tigers, rhinos and the world's largest flock of Bengal florican (Houbaropsis bengalensis) and swamp deer (Cervus duvauceli). It connects with two tiger reserves in India, Pilbhit and Dudhwa.(Telegraph)