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Police kill leopard in Balkot
Kantipur Report
BHAKTAPUR, May 24 - The police have killed a leopard that terrorised locals at Balkot in Bhaktapur district on Sunday afternoon.Five rounds of bullet were fired to kill the beast. The police killed the leopard on the order of Chief District Officer Komal Mani Kafle after the attempts to capture it failed. Technicians from the Central Zoo at Jawalakhel had reached Balkot to capture the beast, however, the tranquiliser dart was not effective. The fierce feline entered the village from the nearby woods and was living I open near a local primary school. It attacked the villagers who went to see it, injuring 11 of them this morning.The school business was obstructed today due to the terror of the wild cat.
Police kill leopard in Balkot
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Kantipur Report
BHAKTAPUR, May 24 - The police have killed a leopard that terrorised locals at Balkot in Bhaktapur district on Sunday afternoon.Five rounds of bullet were fired to kill the beast. The police killed the leopard on the order of Chief District Officer Komal Mani Kafle after the attempts to capture it failed. Technicians from the Central Zoo at Jawalakhel had reached Balkot to capture the beast, however, the tranquiliser dart was not effective. The fierce feline entered the village from the nearby woods and was living I open near a local primary school. It attacked the villagers who went to see it, injuring 11 of them this morning.The school business was obstructed today due to the terror of the wild cat.
New bid to protect rhino
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Snakes on high demand
KATHMANDU: Lured by high price for snake poison in the international market, smuggling of poisonous snakes by Indian snake charmers is on the rise in eastern Nepal, Nepali news agency RSS reported today.Dozens of snake charmers from various Indian cities have descended into Jhapa district, some 320 km southeast of the capital Kathmandu, to catch poisonous snakes and sell poison in the global market. Taking advantage of the summer season, the time when snakes come out of their holes, snake charmers play fl utes to catch them.Much to the dismay of locals, the local administration has not initiated any eff ort to stop the smuggling of snakes, an illegal practice according to laws, the report said. A local of Dangibari-6 in Jhapa, Suresh Shivakoti , said Indian snake charmers have been illegally taking Nepali snakes to India to sell its poison. “It seems that the concerned authorities have been allowing them to do so. Now, it’’s high time the Indian snake charmers are brought to justice,” the report quoted Shivakoti as saying.
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KATHMANDU: Lured by high price for snake poison in the international market, smuggling of poisonous snakes by Indian snake charmers is on the rise in eastern Nepal, Nepali news agency RSS reported today.Dozens of snake charmers from various Indian cities have descended into Jhapa district, some 320 km southeast of the capital Kathmandu, to catch poisonous snakes and sell poison in the global market. Taking advantage of the summer season, the time when snakes come out of their holes, snake charmers play fl utes to catch them.Much to the dismay of locals, the local administration has not initiated any eff ort to stop the smuggling of snakes, an illegal practice according to laws, the report said. A local of Dangibari-6 in Jhapa, Suresh Shivakoti , said Indian snake charmers have been illegally taking Nepali snakes to India to sell its poison. “It seems that the concerned authorities have been allowing them to do so. Now, it’’s high time the Indian snake charmers are brought to justice,” the report quoted Shivakoti as saying.
Poachers injure officers
CHITWAN: Six patrolling officers of Chitwan National Park (CNP) were injured in an attack by a group of poachers at Sikaribas of Thori area in Chitwan on Sunday night. It is said that Lavjung Thapa was seriously injured in the poachers’ attack. Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the incident.
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CHITWAN: Six patrolling officers of Chitwan National Park (CNP) were injured in an attack by a group of poachers at Sikaribas of Thori area in Chitwan on Sunday night. It is said that Lavjung Thapa was seriously injured in the poachers’ attack. Police have arrested eight persons in connection with the incident.
‘Unemployed’ tuskers get jobs at Pench, Satpura reserves
20 May 2009
BHOPAL: Four elephants have found a job in the Pench and Satpura tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh after they were rendered jobless in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. No, do not get it wrong. These elephants have not been laid-off following global economic downturn, but these tuskers had turned jobless after the Apex Court in 2001 banned the trees’ felling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Since then they have become a fi nancial burden for the Union Territory, given their diet and upkeep, forest offi cials said. The elephants, Sharoon, Ambika, Sumitra and Mohini started their long voyage by a ship from Bay Islands in Andaman and Nicobar on May 10 and then had to walk to reach Pench and Satpura in the state. “We brought these four elephants few days back and of them, two each have been involved in Pench and Satpura in the job of patrolling the jungles and ferrying tourists,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) H S Pabla said. “Offi cials from the state’s Kanha Tiger Reserve had gone to Andaman and Nicobar Island and they brought these pachyderms accompanied by their Mahauts to the state,” he said. He said that they have sought 20 elephants from Andaman and Nicobar Islands but got four adding, they have approached some states
for more elephants Pabla added.
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20 May 2009
BHOPAL: Four elephants have found a job in the Pench and Satpura tiger reserves in Madhya Pradesh after they were rendered jobless in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. No, do not get it wrong. These elephants have not been laid-off following global economic downturn, but these tuskers had turned jobless after the Apex Court in 2001 banned the trees’ felling in Andaman and Nicobar Islands. Since then they have become a fi nancial burden for the Union Territory, given their diet and upkeep, forest offi cials said. The elephants, Sharoon, Ambika, Sumitra and Mohini started their long voyage by a ship from Bay Islands in Andaman and Nicobar on May 10 and then had to walk to reach Pench and Satpura in the state. “We brought these four elephants few days back and of them, two each have been involved in Pench and Satpura in the job of patrolling the jungles and ferrying tourists,” Principal Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) H S Pabla said. “Offi cials from the state’s Kanha Tiger Reserve had gone to Andaman and Nicobar Island and they brought these pachyderms accompanied by their Mahauts to the state,” he said. He said that they have sought 20 elephants from Andaman and Nicobar Islands but got four adding, they have approached some states
for more elephants Pabla added.
Periodical security audits in tiger reserves in offing
NEW DELHI: With huge funds not helping much in conservation of big cats, states will be soon asked to conduct security audits periodically in tiger reserves to plug loopholes threatening the endangered predators. “Every year we have been doling out huge money to the tiger-bearing states for the protection of the cats. But unless they review their security system and fill up the gaps, all eff orts to save the endangered animal will be futile,” a senior environment offi cial said. He said a proposal in this regard will be soon sent to the 18 tiger-range states advising them to carry out periodic security audits of their tiger reserves to ensure that the guidelines for protection of animals are followed in letter and spirit. “These security audits should be carried out at the state level as also from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) from time to time and will aim to address issues such as implementation of security protocols, reviewing staff preparedness to prevent or respond to any crisis,” he added. Elaborating further on the proposal, the offi cial said, the states need to carry out regular mock drills, keep a tab on monitoring by senior offi cials as also updating threat perceptions as poachers employ innovative ways to kill tigers. These suggestions have been drafted by NTCA along with NGO Traffic India as part of a security plan meant to lay out the entire gamut of management activities necessary for protection of the big cat. A periodic review of the steps should be done by independent and anonymous evaluators to ensure accountabilty of the authori?? es, as per the security plan. In the recent budget, the Finance Ministry had allocated a whopping Rs 60 crore for the conservation of tigers in the country whose numbers have drastically declined to 1,400 as estimated by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Besides man-animal conflict and reducing habitat, poaching is seen as a major threat to the survival of the big cats in the country.
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NEW DELHI: With huge funds not helping much in conservation of big cats, states will be soon asked to conduct security audits periodically in tiger reserves to plug loopholes threatening the endangered predators. “Every year we have been doling out huge money to the tiger-bearing states for the protection of the cats. But unless they review their security system and fill up the gaps, all eff orts to save the endangered animal will be futile,” a senior environment offi cial said. He said a proposal in this regard will be soon sent to the 18 tiger-range states advising them to carry out periodic security audits of their tiger reserves to ensure that the guidelines for protection of animals are followed in letter and spirit. “These security audits should be carried out at the state level as also from the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) from time to time and will aim to address issues such as implementation of security protocols, reviewing staff preparedness to prevent or respond to any crisis,” he added. Elaborating further on the proposal, the offi cial said, the states need to carry out regular mock drills, keep a tab on monitoring by senior offi cials as also updating threat perceptions as poachers employ innovative ways to kill tigers. These suggestions have been drafted by NTCA along with NGO Traffic India as part of a security plan meant to lay out the entire gamut of management activities necessary for protection of the big cat. A periodic review of the steps should be done by independent and anonymous evaluators to ensure accountabilty of the authori?? es, as per the security plan. In the recent budget, the Finance Ministry had allocated a whopping Rs 60 crore for the conservation of tigers in the country whose numbers have drastically declined to 1,400 as estimated by Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII). Besides man-animal conflict and reducing habitat, poaching is seen as a major threat to the survival of the big cats in the country.
Elephant herd from Nepal sighted in Dudhwa Park
4 May 2009
LAKHIMPUR KHERI (UP): A herd of 40 elephants, which migrated from Nepal, has been sighted in the Dudhwa National Park, forest department offi cials said on Monday. “The herd comprised three tuskers and over a dozen elephant calves with age ranging from three months to three years,” Kartik Kumar Singh, district
conservator of forests, North Kheri Division said. Teams of forest as well as Dudhwa National Park authori?? es had been formed to keep close watch of the movement of
the herd to any confrontation with local farmers, Singh said. According to wildlife conserva?? onists and convener of Terai Nature Conservation Society Vijay Prakash, the herd was likely to stay there for a month as the park provided adequate food and shelter.
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4 May 2009
LAKHIMPUR KHERI (UP): A herd of 40 elephants, which migrated from Nepal, has been sighted in the Dudhwa National Park, forest department offi cials said on Monday. “The herd comprised three tuskers and over a dozen elephant calves with age ranging from three months to three years,” Kartik Kumar Singh, district
conservator of forests, North Kheri Division said. Teams of forest as well as Dudhwa National Park authori?? es had been formed to keep close watch of the movement of
the herd to any confrontation with local farmers, Singh said. According to wildlife conserva?? onists and convener of Terai Nature Conservation Society Vijay Prakash, the herd was likely to stay there for a month as the park provided adequate food and shelter.
19 rhino carcasses found in Bardiya
GULARIYA, May 6 - Police personnel on Tuesday confi scated carcasses of 19 endangered one-horned rhinos from Bardiya National Park (BNP) buried underground in Sattar Farm at Bhimmapur VDC-6 situated near the Nepal-India border.
BNP offi cials suspect that poachers killed the rhinos for horns when these animals were out for grazing and later buried the dead animals underground in the farm.
Locals claim that poachers coming from both Nepal and India have been living in Sattar Farm for the past seven or eight years and they have killed dozens of
endangered animal species along with hundreds of deer inhabiting BNP using modified weapons.
“The farm had been set up as a convenient spot for poachers stay in to poach the rhinos which move to and fro in the corridor that lie along Nepal-India border,” one
local said.
BNP serves as one of the biggest reserve for endangered rhinos in the country. However, due to rampant poaching activities, the park has lost dozens of rhinos at the hands of poachers within the past few years.
According to the latest rhino census done in 2007, a total of 31 rhinos were found inside BNP. That number has been reduced to 22 at present.
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GULARIYA, May 6 - Police personnel on Tuesday confi scated carcasses of 19 endangered one-horned rhinos from Bardiya National Park (BNP) buried underground in Sattar Farm at Bhimmapur VDC-6 situated near the Nepal-India border.
BNP offi cials suspect that poachers killed the rhinos for horns when these animals were out for grazing and later buried the dead animals underground in the farm.
Locals claim that poachers coming from both Nepal and India have been living in Sattar Farm for the past seven or eight years and they have killed dozens of
endangered animal species along with hundreds of deer inhabiting BNP using modified weapons.
“The farm had been set up as a convenient spot for poachers stay in to poach the rhinos which move to and fro in the corridor that lie along Nepal-India border,” one
local said.
BNP serves as one of the biggest reserve for endangered rhinos in the country. However, due to rampant poaching activities, the park has lost dozens of rhinos at the hands of poachers within the past few years.
According to the latest rhino census done in 2007, a total of 31 rhinos were found inside BNP. That number has been reduced to 22 at present.
40,000-yr elephant footprint in Valley
BY DEV KUMAR SUNUWAR
KATHMANDU , April 1 - A team of geologists and sedimentologists from Japan and Tribhuvan University (TU) have discovered 40,000 and 24,000 years old footprints of elephants respectively on two separate soil sediments in Kathmandu Valley .
These two finds suggest that elephants lived in the Valley in those ages, according to geologists. “To our knowledge, nobody has found such imprints on soil sediments that old anywhere else in the world,” said Dr. Tetsuya Sakai, Sedimentologist from Shimane University in Japan . He also said that in the research period along sand-mining areas in Thimi and Gokarna, many strange deformations of elephant footprints and toed-ungulates (having hooves) were found and we could scientifically infer that elephant treadings had caused the deformations. The age of the footprints and sediments were measured with carbon dating, an international instrument for measuring the age of soil. Japanese geologists, ecologists and sedimentologist, in collaboration with geologists of TU, have been regularly conducting research on geological, cultural and natural landscapes and topography of Kathmandu Valley since 1998. However, the footprints in the Valley were this time discovered by a team comprising Prof. B.N. Upreti and Ananta Prasad Gajurel from Geology Department at Tri Chandra Campus, TU; and Dr. Tetsuya Sakai, from Shimane University in Japan and Dr. Hideo Tabata from Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture in Japan .
“We had never seen anything like this anywhere during our research in any part of the country including Kathmandu Valley ,” said Dr. Hideo Tabata. Adding that they needed animal fossils for more evidence for further confirmation of their interpretation, he said, “We are very sure that these evidences can be found on the soil sediments around sand-mining areas.” “Therefore we urge sand mine workers to contact us if they find fossils, namely bones and teeth without breaking the site of the finding,” he added. “These are treasures of Nepal and they need to be further conserved in museums, instead of destroying or letting them go unnoticed.”
He also said he is socked by the fast pace of development activities in the Valley, which are destroying the historical, cultural and natural landscapes in such a way that Nepal can never recover its lost greenery and healthy treasures.
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BY DEV KUMAR SUNUWAR
KATHMANDU , April 1 - A team of geologists and sedimentologists from Japan and Tribhuvan University (TU) have discovered 40,000 and 24,000 years old footprints of elephants respectively on two separate soil sediments in Kathmandu Valley .
These two finds suggest that elephants lived in the Valley in those ages, according to geologists. “To our knowledge, nobody has found such imprints on soil sediments that old anywhere else in the world,” said Dr. Tetsuya Sakai, Sedimentologist from Shimane University in Japan . He also said that in the research period along sand-mining areas in Thimi and Gokarna, many strange deformations of elephant footprints and toed-ungulates (having hooves) were found and we could scientifically infer that elephant treadings had caused the deformations. The age of the footprints and sediments were measured with carbon dating, an international instrument for measuring the age of soil. Japanese geologists, ecologists and sedimentologist, in collaboration with geologists of TU, have been regularly conducting research on geological, cultural and natural landscapes and topography of Kathmandu Valley since 1998. However, the footprints in the Valley were this time discovered by a team comprising Prof. B.N. Upreti and Ananta Prasad Gajurel from Geology Department at Tri Chandra Campus, TU; and Dr. Tetsuya Sakai, from Shimane University in Japan and Dr. Hideo Tabata from Gifu Academy of Forest Science and Culture in Japan .
“We had never seen anything like this anywhere during our research in any part of the country including Kathmandu Valley ,” said Dr. Hideo Tabata. Adding that they needed animal fossils for more evidence for further confirmation of their interpretation, he said, “We are very sure that these evidences can be found on the soil sediments around sand-mining areas.” “Therefore we urge sand mine workers to contact us if they find fossils, namely bones and teeth without breaking the site of the finding,” he added. “These are treasures of Nepal and they need to be further conserved in museums, instead of destroying or letting them go unnoticed.”
He also said he is socked by the fast pace of development activities in the Valley, which are destroying the historical, cultural and natural landscapes in such a way that Nepal can never recover its lost greenery and healthy treasures.
Water scarcity in Parsa wildlife reserve
Diwakar Bhandari
PATHLAIYA : The effects of global warming is being felt everywhere and the wildlife at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve are the latest to be hit. With natural sources of water drying in the reserve, the wild beasts have started moving towards nearby human settlements to quench their thirst. In a bid to stop wild animals from going to human settlement, the Parsa Wildlife Reserve has started supplying water in the jungle from tankers. "We started supplying water from the tankers after the animals started going to nearby villages to quench their thirst," Tulsiram Sharma, chief conservation officer at the reserve said. He also said they had been refilling ponds inside the reserve three times a week through tankers. According to officials at the reserve, the chances of attack against the animals are high when they come out of the reserve. "They might be targeted by villagers and might also fall into accidents while crossing roads," they added.
The reserve has constructed an artificial pond near a grassland, which stretches across 40 bighas of land, so that the animals do not have to go to human settlements in search of water. Different species of deer, boar and blue bull graze in the grassland, the reserve officials said. The reserve is home to over 300 species of wildlife and birds.The reserve occupies parts of Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa and Bara districts in central Nepal .
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Diwakar Bhandari
PATHLAIYA : The effects of global warming is being felt everywhere and the wildlife at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve are the latest to be hit. With natural sources of water drying in the reserve, the wild beasts have started moving towards nearby human settlements to quench their thirst. In a bid to stop wild animals from going to human settlement, the Parsa Wildlife Reserve has started supplying water in the jungle from tankers. "We started supplying water from the tankers after the animals started going to nearby villages to quench their thirst," Tulsiram Sharma, chief conservation officer at the reserve said. He also said they had been refilling ponds inside the reserve three times a week through tankers. According to officials at the reserve, the chances of attack against the animals are high when they come out of the reserve. "They might be targeted by villagers and might also fall into accidents while crossing roads," they added.
The reserve has constructed an artificial pond near a grassland, which stretches across 40 bighas of land, so that the animals do not have to go to human settlements in search of water. Different species of deer, boar and blue bull graze in the grassland, the reserve officials said. The reserve is home to over 300 species of wildlife and birds.The reserve occupies parts of Chitwan, Makwanpur, Parsa and Bara districts in central Nepal .
Rhino deaths unabated
BINOD TRIPATHI
CHITWAN, April 20 - At least 13 one-horned rhinos have died in the last one year inside Chitwan National Park (CNP), all thanks to the government's failure to avail needful resources to forest officials combat the problem. According to information provided by CNP, seven rhinos were killed by poachers and six others died of natural causes. It is believed that the government's failure to deploy essential staff for patrolling, increase check posts and reluctance to upgrade security measures have resulted in the rise in deaths of rhinos in the recent past.
The Park officials said that special package programmes have been added to curb poaching. However, an official conceded that they have been facing increasing challenges in recent times to save the rhinos from poachers, partcularly since the time of last census taken in March-April. CNP has also organised a week-long ‘Save Rhinos Campaign’ from April 14 on the sidelines of 14th Wildlife Week being celebrated here. CNP officials flayed the concerned department for failing to recruit adequate staff and continuing to ignore the importance of setting up more check posts.
Though the Park has been divided into four sectors to provide security, there has been a huge crunch in manpower to carry out patrolling. “The govt. bureaucracy should be strong to make the security system effective,” said Ana Nath Baral, Assistant Conservation Officer of CNP, adding, “The Park should not be used to meet certain people’s personal interests. Everyone should realize the importance of wildlife conservation and should make all efforts to conserve wildlife viewing this as their own responsibility.”1,100 security personnel, including security personnel from the Gorakhnath Battalion of Nepal Army have been deployed in the CNP area. There were 408 rhinos in the CNP area during the last census. However, the Park officials are highly skeptical about their ability to do anything to enhance the rhino numbers in the coming days.
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BINOD TRIPATHI
CHITWAN, April 20 - At least 13 one-horned rhinos have died in the last one year inside Chitwan National Park (CNP), all thanks to the government's failure to avail needful resources to forest officials combat the problem. According to information provided by CNP, seven rhinos were killed by poachers and six others died of natural causes. It is believed that the government's failure to deploy essential staff for patrolling, increase check posts and reluctance to upgrade security measures have resulted in the rise in deaths of rhinos in the recent past.
The Park officials said that special package programmes have been added to curb poaching. However, an official conceded that they have been facing increasing challenges in recent times to save the rhinos from poachers, partcularly since the time of last census taken in March-April. CNP has also organised a week-long ‘Save Rhinos Campaign’ from April 14 on the sidelines of 14th Wildlife Week being celebrated here. CNP officials flayed the concerned department for failing to recruit adequate staff and continuing to ignore the importance of setting up more check posts.
Though the Park has been divided into four sectors to provide security, there has been a huge crunch in manpower to carry out patrolling. “The govt. bureaucracy should be strong to make the security system effective,” said Ana Nath Baral, Assistant Conservation Officer of CNP, adding, “The Park should not be used to meet certain people’s personal interests. Everyone should realize the importance of wildlife conservation and should make all efforts to conserve wildlife viewing this as their own responsibility.”1,100 security personnel, including security personnel from the Gorakhnath Battalion of Nepal Army have been deployed in the CNP area. There were 408 rhinos in the CNP area during the last census. However, the Park officials are highly skeptical about their ability to do anything to enhance the rhino numbers in the coming days.
Poachers, smugglers get political protection
Nepalgunj, April 4
A special mobile team, formed some three months ago to minimise the increasing threat of poaching of wild animals and wood smuggling from the forests of Banke, Bardiya and Dang, has failed to work effectively as poachers and smugglers have received political protection.The poachers and smugglers have also taken advantage of transitional period during when the nation has experienced failure in the effective enforcement of the rules and regulation The special mobile team has stated that they are unable to achieve progress as they have expected in mitigating poaching and wood smuggling due to political intervention and protection to the smugglers, regular strikes and protests called by different political and other groups.
District Forest Office of Banke, Bardiya and Dang have jointly been carrying out the special mobile campaign from January 29. "We are unable to work properly due to high political pressure along with the early release of wood smugglers from the jail," said one of the district forest employees requesting anonymity."No sooner we arrest the smugglers, politically affiliated leaders give us order to release them," the employee said. A total of about 30 forest officers and staffs have been deployed to control the increasing threats of wood smuggling and poaching.
The campaign, which has been carried out on the decision of Regional Forest Directorate, will continue till mid-August.The staffs remained busy keeping themselves mobile round the clock at the East-West Highway that runs through Banke, Bardiya and Dang districts and round the forest area situated at the districts. The mobile team is currently at Bardiya district. Ram Hari Sedai, assistant forest officer, however, said that they were not facing any such problems and difficulties from the political leaders. Sedai said that the frequent protests and bandh have affected them."The Tharuhat movement organised some two weeks ago affected us badly," Sedai said.
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Nepalgunj, April 4
A special mobile team, formed some three months ago to minimise the increasing threat of poaching of wild animals and wood smuggling from the forests of Banke, Bardiya and Dang, has failed to work effectively as poachers and smugglers have received political protection.The poachers and smugglers have also taken advantage of transitional period during when the nation has experienced failure in the effective enforcement of the rules and regulation The special mobile team has stated that they are unable to achieve progress as they have expected in mitigating poaching and wood smuggling due to political intervention and protection to the smugglers, regular strikes and protests called by different political and other groups.
District Forest Office of Banke, Bardiya and Dang have jointly been carrying out the special mobile campaign from January 29. "We are unable to work properly due to high political pressure along with the early release of wood smugglers from the jail," said one of the district forest employees requesting anonymity."No sooner we arrest the smugglers, politically affiliated leaders give us order to release them," the employee said. A total of about 30 forest officers and staffs have been deployed to control the increasing threats of wood smuggling and poaching.
The campaign, which has been carried out on the decision of Regional Forest Directorate, will continue till mid-August.The staffs remained busy keeping themselves mobile round the clock at the East-West Highway that runs through Banke, Bardiya and Dang districts and round the forest area situated at the districts. The mobile team is currently at Bardiya district. Ram Hari Sedai, assistant forest officer, however, said that they were not facing any such problems and difficulties from the political leaders. Sedai said that the frequent protests and bandh have affected them."The Tharuhat movement organised some two weeks ago affected us badly," Sedai said.
Save rhino drive down the drain
BY PRAGATI SHAHI
KATHMANDU , April 1 - Just two days ago, poachers critically injured a rhino inside Chitwan National Park . Officials say the rhino has received two bullets on its head and can die anytime. The vets are helpless as they don't have the technology to extract the bullets from the rhino.
Nepal's one horned rhino is under threat if the latest figures on poaching are anything to go by. Seven rhinos, excluding the latest injured one were found killed by poachers since the latest census in March 2008 in CNP, according to Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). There were 408 rhinos in March, 2008. Similarly, two rhinos were found killed and their horns and hooves extracted in Bardiya National Park (BNP) after March 2008.
Despite "concerted efforts" rhino poaching continues in Nepal . "The park area is large and security personnel are few," says Narendra Babu Pradhan, chief conservation officer at CNP, while commenting on continued poaching of rhinos in Nepal . He argues that conservation efforts have gone down the drain due to lack of resources at the parks. According to him, there are only four well equipped vehicles in CNP for patrolling 932 square kilometres and the buffer-zone covering 750 square kilometres. The government's decision to restrict armed security force from patrolling the buffer-zone has also contributed to increased poaching, according to him. Out of a total of seven rhinos killed in CNP, four were found dead inside the buffer zone. Likewise both rhinos in Bardiya were killed inside the buffer zone. The traditional poaching strategy has changed. Now, they prefer more sophisticated weapons like SLR guns. Diwakar Chapagain, wildlife trade manager of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says the unchanged conservation strategy is now the major hurdle in rhino conservation.
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BY PRAGATI SHAHI
KATHMANDU , April 1 - Just two days ago, poachers critically injured a rhino inside Chitwan National Park . Officials say the rhino has received two bullets on its head and can die anytime. The vets are helpless as they don't have the technology to extract the bullets from the rhino.
Nepal's one horned rhino is under threat if the latest figures on poaching are anything to go by. Seven rhinos, excluding the latest injured one were found killed by poachers since the latest census in March 2008 in CNP, according to Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). There were 408 rhinos in March, 2008. Similarly, two rhinos were found killed and their horns and hooves extracted in Bardiya National Park (BNP) after March 2008.
Despite "concerted efforts" rhino poaching continues in Nepal . "The park area is large and security personnel are few," says Narendra Babu Pradhan, chief conservation officer at CNP, while commenting on continued poaching of rhinos in Nepal . He argues that conservation efforts have gone down the drain due to lack of resources at the parks. According to him, there are only four well equipped vehicles in CNP for patrolling 932 square kilometres and the buffer-zone covering 750 square kilometres. The government's decision to restrict armed security force from patrolling the buffer-zone has also contributed to increased poaching, according to him. Out of a total of seven rhinos killed in CNP, four were found dead inside the buffer zone. Likewise both rhinos in Bardiya were killed inside the buffer zone. The traditional poaching strategy has changed. Now, they prefer more sophisticated weapons like SLR guns. Diwakar Chapagain, wildlife trade manager of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) says the unchanged conservation strategy is now the major hurdle in rhino conservation.
The $1.5 million Wedding Dress Made Up Of 2009 Peacock Feathers
NANJING, China, April 13 (UPI) — A Chinese wedding dress factory said eight workers spent 40 days creating a $1.5 million dress from 2,009 peacock feathers.
The factory in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, said the dress also includes a bodice featuring brocade and Suzhou embroidery, the Daily Mail reported Monday.
Male peacocks each shed an average 200 feathers during an average year, meaning the makers of the dress would have needed to collect dropped feathers from more than 10 birds for a year to gather enough for the gown, the British newspaper said.
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NANJING, China, April 13 (UPI) — A Chinese wedding dress factory said eight workers spent 40 days creating a $1.5 million dress from 2,009 peacock feathers.
The factory in Nanjing, Jiangsu province, said the dress also includes a bodice featuring brocade and Suzhou embroidery, the Daily Mail reported Monday.
Male peacocks each shed an average 200 feathers during an average year, meaning the makers of the dress would have needed to collect dropped feathers from more than 10 birds for a year to gather enough for the gown, the British newspaper said.
Bangladesh hosts 6,000 rare dolphins: Study
1 Apr 2009,
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Thousands of rare dolphins have been found in Bangladeshi waters, a wildlife advocacy group said Wednesday, with a warning that the mammals are threatened by climate change and fishing nets. Nearly 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins, which are related to orcas or killer whales, were found living in freshwater regions of Bangladesh 's Sundarbans mangrove forest and the adjacent waters of the Bay of Bengal , the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society said. Prior to this study, which the Wildlife Conservation Society news release said used rigorous scientific techniques, the largest known populations of Irrawaddy dolphins numbered in the low hundreds or less. The news release did not say when the study was conducted but Bangladeshi researchers in the team said it was launched in 2004. "This discovery gives us great hope that there is a future for Irrawaddy dolphins," said Brian D. Smith, the study's lead author. " Bangladesh clearly serves as an important sanctuary for Irrawaddy dolphins, and conservation in this region should be a top priority." Ainun Nishat, the Bangladesh head of International Union for Conservation of Nature, said the finding was an indication that "ecology in the area is not dead yet."
"There is plenty of food, mainly fish, in the area for the dolphins to eat," said Nishat, who was not involved in the study. "What is now needed is to restrict fishing in the area to protect the dolphins." The study also warned that the dolphins are becoming increasingly threatened by accidental entanglement in fishing nets. During the study, researchers encountered two dolphins that had become entangled and subsequently drowned in fishing nets, a common occurrence, according to local fishermen. Rising sea levels caused by climate change also threaten the freshwater dolphins, the researchers said. Scientists do not know how many Irrawaddy dolphins remain. In 2008, they were listed as vulnerable in the International Union of Conservation of Nature's Red List based on population declines in known populations, according to the news release. The Irrawaddy dolphin grows to up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length and frequents large rivers, estuaries, and freshwater lagoons in south and southeast Asia.
The results of the study were made public Wednesday at the First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas in Maui , Hawaii . Wildlife Conservation Society has asked Bangladesh authorities to establish a sanctuary for the dolphins in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. "The sanctuary may take time," said Mohammad Jalilur Rahman, an official at the state-run Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute. "But we are already motivating the fishermen not to harm the dolphins which get entangled in their nets."
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1 Apr 2009,
DHAKA, Bangladesh: Thousands of rare dolphins have been found in Bangladeshi waters, a wildlife advocacy group said Wednesday, with a warning that the mammals are threatened by climate change and fishing nets. Nearly 6,000 Irrawaddy dolphins, which are related to orcas or killer whales, were found living in freshwater regions of Bangladesh 's Sundarbans mangrove forest and the adjacent waters of the Bay of Bengal , the New York-based Wildlife Conservation Society said. Prior to this study, which the Wildlife Conservation Society news release said used rigorous scientific techniques, the largest known populations of Irrawaddy dolphins numbered in the low hundreds or less. The news release did not say when the study was conducted but Bangladeshi researchers in the team said it was launched in 2004. "This discovery gives us great hope that there is a future for Irrawaddy dolphins," said Brian D. Smith, the study's lead author. " Bangladesh clearly serves as an important sanctuary for Irrawaddy dolphins, and conservation in this region should be a top priority." Ainun Nishat, the Bangladesh head of International Union for Conservation of Nature, said the finding was an indication that "ecology in the area is not dead yet."
"There is plenty of food, mainly fish, in the area for the dolphins to eat," said Nishat, who was not involved in the study. "What is now needed is to restrict fishing in the area to protect the dolphins." The study also warned that the dolphins are becoming increasingly threatened by accidental entanglement in fishing nets. During the study, researchers encountered two dolphins that had become entangled and subsequently drowned in fishing nets, a common occurrence, according to local fishermen. Rising sea levels caused by climate change also threaten the freshwater dolphins, the researchers said. Scientists do not know how many Irrawaddy dolphins remain. In 2008, they were listed as vulnerable in the International Union of Conservation of Nature's Red List based on population declines in known populations, according to the news release. The Irrawaddy dolphin grows to up to 8 feet (2.5 meters) in length and frequents large rivers, estuaries, and freshwater lagoons in south and southeast Asia.
The results of the study were made public Wednesday at the First International Conference on Marine Mammal Protected Areas in Maui , Hawaii . Wildlife Conservation Society has asked Bangladesh authorities to establish a sanctuary for the dolphins in the Sundarbans mangrove forest. "The sanctuary may take time," said Mohammad Jalilur Rahman, an official at the state-run Bangladesh Fisheries Research Institute. "But we are already motivating the fishermen not to harm the dolphins which get entangled in their nets."
New 3D software to count tigers for conservation
13 Mar 2009,
WASHINGTON: New software developed with help from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will allow researchers to rapidly identify individual tigers by creating a three-dimensional (3D) model using photos taken by remote cameras, which would help in their conservation. The new software, developed by Conservation Research Ltd., creates a 3D model from scanned photos using algorithms similar to fingerprint-matching software used by criminologists.
It may also help identify the origin of tigers from confiscated skins.
Researchers currently calculate tiger populations by painstakingly reviewing hundreds of photos of animals caught by camera "traps" and then matching their individual stripe patterns, which are unique to each animal.
Using a formula developed by renowned tiger expert Ullas Karanth of WCS, researchers accurately estimate local populations by how many times individual tigers are "recaptured" by the camera trap technique.
It is expected that the new software will allow researchers to rapidly identify animals, which in turn could speed up tiger conservation efforts. "This new software will make it much easier for conservationists to identify individual tigers and estimate populations," said Ullas Karanth, Senior Conservation Scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the study's co-authors. "The fundamentals of tiger conservation are knowing how many tigers live in a study area before you can start to measure success," he added. Researches were also able to use the software to identify the origin of confiscated tiger skins based on solely on photos
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13 Mar 2009,
WASHINGTON: New software developed with help from the Wildlife Conservation Society (WCS) will allow researchers to rapidly identify individual tigers by creating a three-dimensional (3D) model using photos taken by remote cameras, which would help in their conservation. The new software, developed by Conservation Research Ltd., creates a 3D model from scanned photos using algorithms similar to fingerprint-matching software used by criminologists.
It may also help identify the origin of tigers from confiscated skins.
Researchers currently calculate tiger populations by painstakingly reviewing hundreds of photos of animals caught by camera "traps" and then matching their individual stripe patterns, which are unique to each animal.
Using a formula developed by renowned tiger expert Ullas Karanth of WCS, researchers accurately estimate local populations by how many times individual tigers are "recaptured" by the camera trap technique.
It is expected that the new software will allow researchers to rapidly identify animals, which in turn could speed up tiger conservation efforts. "This new software will make it much easier for conservationists to identify individual tigers and estimate populations," said Ullas Karanth, Senior Conservation Scientist at the Wildlife Conservation Society and one of the study's co-authors. "The fundamentals of tiger conservation are knowing how many tigers live in a study area before you can start to measure success," he added. Researches were also able to use the software to identify the origin of confiscated tiger skins based on solely on photos
Finnish Give Backing to Elephant Plan
WINDHOEK - The Finnish Embassy has availed N$252 000 for drafting a management plan for the elephant population in the north-west of Namibia.
The Embassy of Finland positively responded to a funding proposal that was submitted to various donor institutions by forwarding N$250 000 for drafting the plan.
Following the escalation of human-elephant conflict experienced in the northwest, the farming community (Joint Presidency Committee: Namibia National Farmers Union, Namibia Agricultural Union and the Emerging Commercial Farmers) in collaboration with the environment ministry approached a consultant to draft a management plan.
In recent years, conflict with elephants has escalated in the farming districts surrounding the western half of the Etosha National Park, extending southwards through Kamanjab to Outjo and towards Otjiwarongo.
"This conflict takes the form of damage to water supplies, fence breaking, vegetation damage and raids on vegetable gardens," Pintile Davids, the President of the Namibia National Farmers Union said at a ceremony.
Davids said the conflict is not new and that throughout history, humans and elephants have competed for resources such as water.
"It has become important to draft a management plan between all stakeholders affected by the north-western elephant population, in order to address their concerns," he added.
The estimated combined elephant population inside and outside Etosha National Park is about 4 000, while elephants outside the park in the affected areas are estimated at slightly over 1 000.
According to the NNFU president, more elephants are leaving the park, as a steep gradient in declining rainfall from east to west results in a range which is most attractive to elephants south and east of Etosha.
One thousand elephants are distributed over 100 000 square kms in the northwest of Namibia, while the stocking rate for one animal is 100 square km.
The Chargé d'Affaires of Finland, Asko Luukkainen, said the management plan supports ecologically sustainable development and protection of the environment that is high in the Finnish Development agenda.
Luukkainen expressed hope that the up-coming Elephant Management Plan for the northwestern region will come up with tangible recommendations and solutions to the prevailing elephant-human conflict.
Finland is funding a similar project in Nepal on how to control animal movement in that country, which Luukkainen said is a success.
"It is a great pleasure to do similar financing. A management plan is very important as it prevents both parties (human or animal) from suffering," the Finnish representative said.
The drafting of the management plan will start immediately for the next six months
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WINDHOEK - The Finnish Embassy has availed N$252 000 for drafting a management plan for the elephant population in the north-west of Namibia.
The Embassy of Finland positively responded to a funding proposal that was submitted to various donor institutions by forwarding N$250 000 for drafting the plan.
Following the escalation of human-elephant conflict experienced in the northwest, the farming community (Joint Presidency Committee: Namibia National Farmers Union, Namibia Agricultural Union and the Emerging Commercial Farmers) in collaboration with the environment ministry approached a consultant to draft a management plan.
In recent years, conflict with elephants has escalated in the farming districts surrounding the western half of the Etosha National Park, extending southwards through Kamanjab to Outjo and towards Otjiwarongo.
"This conflict takes the form of damage to water supplies, fence breaking, vegetation damage and raids on vegetable gardens," Pintile Davids, the President of the Namibia National Farmers Union said at a ceremony.
Davids said the conflict is not new and that throughout history, humans and elephants have competed for resources such as water.
"It has become important to draft a management plan between all stakeholders affected by the north-western elephant population, in order to address their concerns," he added.
The estimated combined elephant population inside and outside Etosha National Park is about 4 000, while elephants outside the park in the affected areas are estimated at slightly over 1 000.
According to the NNFU president, more elephants are leaving the park, as a steep gradient in declining rainfall from east to west results in a range which is most attractive to elephants south and east of Etosha.
One thousand elephants are distributed over 100 000 square kms in the northwest of Namibia, while the stocking rate for one animal is 100 square km.
The Chargé d'Affaires of Finland, Asko Luukkainen, said the management plan supports ecologically sustainable development and protection of the environment that is high in the Finnish Development agenda.
Luukkainen expressed hope that the up-coming Elephant Management Plan for the northwestern region will come up with tangible recommendations and solutions to the prevailing elephant-human conflict.
Finland is funding a similar project in Nepal on how to control animal movement in that country, which Luukkainen said is a success.
"It is a great pleasure to do similar financing. A management plan is very important as it prevents both parties (human or animal) from suffering," the Finnish representative said.
The drafting of the management plan will start immediately for the next six months
Stranded dolphins rescued
RSS/AP
Itahari, February 4:
Nepal Army personnel deployed for the security of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve rescued three rare dolphins that were stranded in Haripur and Sripur areas of Sunsari district, reports said.
Soldiers and conservation officials caught the dolphins and released them to the Koshi river, Sunsari assistant CDO Fanindra Pokhrel said. The area was being searched to make sure no other dolphins were stranded.
Chief of the Nepal Army battalion deployed for the reserve security Purushottam Khadka said a 100-kg dolphin was rescued from haripur area and released to the river. The efforts to rescue the rare animals were on since Monday.
Two dolphins were rescued from Sripur area.
The dolphins were stranded in Sripur and Haripur area after the Koshi, which breached the embankments and entered the villages in last August, was recently brought back to its original course. The army has estimated that there are at least 10-20 dolphins in the river.
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RSS/AP
Itahari, February 4:
Nepal Army personnel deployed for the security of Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve rescued three rare dolphins that were stranded in Haripur and Sripur areas of Sunsari district, reports said.
Soldiers and conservation officials caught the dolphins and released them to the Koshi river, Sunsari assistant CDO Fanindra Pokhrel said. The area was being searched to make sure no other dolphins were stranded.
Chief of the Nepal Army battalion deployed for the reserve security Purushottam Khadka said a 100-kg dolphin was rescued from haripur area and released to the river. The efforts to rescue the rare animals were on since Monday.
Two dolphins were rescued from Sripur area.
The dolphins were stranded in Sripur and Haripur area after the Koshi, which breached the embankments and entered the villages in last August, was recently brought back to its original course. The army has estimated that there are at least 10-20 dolphins in the river.
Over 80 yaks killed in wildfire
Kantipur Report
SANKHUWASABHA, March 19 - More than 80 yaks were killed in a wildfire at Pawakhola VDC-7, Sankhuwasabha district on Thursday. An unidentified cattle herder also went missing in the wildfire that started from Jumlingkharka area. A team of police from nearby Num VDC was deployed to control the fire from spreading further. Meanwhile, wildfire that started at Makalu VDC 13 days ago has still not come under control. The fire has already destroyed over 1000 hectares of forestland, including the parts of Makalu Barun National Park . Fire that broke out at Tinjure, Milkey and Jaljale region three days ago has also not been contained. Seven persons sustained burn injuries while trying to douse the wildfire at Pakani forest of Goganey VDC-9 . The wildfire has destroyed a five kilometer long water pipeline rendering hundreds of villagers thirsty.
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Kantipur Report
SANKHUWASABHA, March 19 - More than 80 yaks were killed in a wildfire at Pawakhola VDC-7, Sankhuwasabha district on Thursday. An unidentified cattle herder also went missing in the wildfire that started from Jumlingkharka area. A team of police from nearby Num VDC was deployed to control the fire from spreading further. Meanwhile, wildfire that started at Makalu VDC 13 days ago has still not come under control. The fire has already destroyed over 1000 hectares of forestland, including the parts of Makalu Barun National Park . Fire that broke out at Tinjure, Milkey and Jaljale region three days ago has also not been contained. Seven persons sustained burn injuries while trying to douse the wildfire at Pakani forest of Goganey VDC-9 . The wildfire has destroyed a five kilometer long water pipeline rendering hundreds of villagers thirsty.
Arrested poachers' could have Sansar Chand links
2 Feb 2009,
DEHRADUN: The five persons arrested near Jim Corbett National Park with a tiger skin could have links with notorious poacher Sansar Chand and more arrests may be made, Uttarakhand forest department officals said.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the poachers could have links with Sansar Chand," a forest department official said. The forest department on Thursday night arrested the five poachers along with a tiger skin at Ramnagar area, the gateway to the Corbett Park which is famous for tigers and elephants. Raids are also being conducted elsewhere in the country to nab other members of the gang, officials said, adding the poachers told the investigators that they wanted to sell the skin in Delhi.
Arrested in June 2005, Sansar Chand, known as the 'Veerappan of north India ', heads a gang of poachers and has been twice convicted under the Wildlife Act and faces trial in several other cases. The official said interrogation was continuing but "a detailed probe would only tell the complete picture of the poaching ring in the state".
More information is likely to be disclosed in a day or two, he said. A trap and other poaching equipments have also been recovered, officials said.
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2 Feb 2009,
DEHRADUN: The five persons arrested near Jim Corbett National Park with a tiger skin could have links with notorious poacher Sansar Chand and more arrests may be made, Uttarakhand forest department officals said.
"Preliminary investigations revealed that the poachers could have links with Sansar Chand," a forest department official said. The forest department on Thursday night arrested the five poachers along with a tiger skin at Ramnagar area, the gateway to the Corbett Park which is famous for tigers and elephants. Raids are also being conducted elsewhere in the country to nab other members of the gang, officials said, adding the poachers told the investigators that they wanted to sell the skin in Delhi.
Arrested in June 2005, Sansar Chand, known as the 'Veerappan of north India ', heads a gang of poachers and has been twice convicted under the Wildlife Act and faces trial in several other cases. The official said interrogation was continuing but "a detailed probe would only tell the complete picture of the poaching ring in the state".
More information is likely to be disclosed in a day or two, he said. A trap and other poaching equipments have also been recovered, officials said.
Man on a mission to save vultures
BECHU GAUD NAWALPARASI, March 10 - As the early morning mist drifts away from farmlands at a community forest's edge in Panchanagar-3, Yadav Khanal embarks on a job which many would find unattractive. Khanal collects carrions from the locale. Upon hearing about the death of animals in the vicinity, Khanal hurries there to collect the remnants. Once a popular stand-up comedian with a flair for political and social satires, Khanal is doing all this for the sake of vultures, which are on the verge of extinction. According to him, 85 vulutres drop in at his place -- “vulture restaurant” -- for food every day. Over two dozen of the everyday 'visitors' fly all the way from mountainous and hilly regions to feast on their favourite items. To ensure uninterrupted supply of food for the scavengers, Khanal buys terminally ill cattle from locals and keeps them in the “old animals' farm” near the restaurant.
The restaurant, which was set up in 2007, is being funded by Bird Conservation Nepal. The dying animals are then taken to the restaurant's farm where they are treated, if needed, with vulture-friendly painkiller and given to vultures after death. The IUCN (World Conservation Union) has listed White-rumped vulture, Long-billed vulture and Slender-billed vulture as critically endangered species in the Indian subcontinent. Diclofenac, a drug used in the treatment of livestock, is a major cause behind the decline in the number of vultures in Nepal . Carcasses laced with the drug can kill the scavengers. Concludes Khanal, “Safe feeding is a must for vulture conservation, for which vulture restaurants are viable schemes. Schemes like vulture restaurant can surely conserve the near-extinct vultures.”
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BECHU GAUD NAWALPARASI, March 10 - As the early morning mist drifts away from farmlands at a community forest's edge in Panchanagar-3, Yadav Khanal embarks on a job which many would find unattractive. Khanal collects carrions from the locale. Upon hearing about the death of animals in the vicinity, Khanal hurries there to collect the remnants. Once a popular stand-up comedian with a flair for political and social satires, Khanal is doing all this for the sake of vultures, which are on the verge of extinction. According to him, 85 vulutres drop in at his place -- “vulture restaurant” -- for food every day. Over two dozen of the everyday 'visitors' fly all the way from mountainous and hilly regions to feast on their favourite items. To ensure uninterrupted supply of food for the scavengers, Khanal buys terminally ill cattle from locals and keeps them in the “old animals' farm” near the restaurant.
The restaurant, which was set up in 2007, is being funded by Bird Conservation Nepal. The dying animals are then taken to the restaurant's farm where they are treated, if needed, with vulture-friendly painkiller and given to vultures after death. The IUCN (World Conservation Union) has listed White-rumped vulture, Long-billed vulture and Slender-billed vulture as critically endangered species in the Indian subcontinent. Diclofenac, a drug used in the treatment of livestock, is a major cause behind the decline in the number of vultures in Nepal . Carcasses laced with the drug can kill the scavengers. Concludes Khanal, “Safe feeding is a must for vulture conservation, for which vulture restaurants are viable schemes. Schemes like vulture restaurant can surely conserve the near-extinct vultures.”
Injured rhino dead
NARAYANGADH, Feb 14 - After suffering for 15 days, the rhino, which was robbed of its horn inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP), died on Friday evening. Chitwan park officials said the female rhino died though a medical team had been attending to it round the clock. In a gruesome act about two weeks ago, poachers had plucked the rhino horn without killing the 30-year-old animal. The incident came to light after a tour guide had spotted the animal near a checkpost at Junauli on Feb. 2.
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NARAYANGADH, Feb 14 - After suffering for 15 days, the rhino, which was robbed of its horn inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP), died on Friday evening. Chitwan park officials said the female rhino died though a medical team had been attending to it round the clock. In a gruesome act about two weeks ago, poachers had plucked the rhino horn without killing the 30-year-old animal. The incident came to light after a tour guide had spotted the animal near a checkpost at Junauli on Feb. 2.
Only 6 dolphins left in Karnali River
BY KAMAL PANTHI
KOTHIYAGHAT, (BARDIYA), Aug 22 - The number of endangered freshwater dolphins in Karnali River , one of the major habitats for the these endangered species has dropped from sixteen to six in the last three years. According to a recent count done by Bardiya National Park ( BNP ) in Karnali River , only six freshwater dolphins were spotted. Ramesh Kumar Thapa, assistant conservation officer of BNP said, six dolphins were spotted at Manaughat, Golalghat and Kothiyaghat areas of the river. "Due to the establishment of Girijapur embankment at 15 kilometers north from the Nepal-India border area, dolphins are facing problem of extinction," he said. According to Thapa, along with the movement of water, freshwater dolphins make their way towards the embankment and get trapped under it. Similarly, increased fishing by locals, as well as Indian fishermen in the border areas, have led to decreased number of small fish, the staple diet for dolphins, thus starving them to death, said Thapa. Dolphins are the first freshwater mammals protected by the country's laws. National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, has also categorized dolphins under the category of threatened species. Out of seven species of dolphins found worldwide, only four live in freshwater. Nepal has one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world.
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BY KAMAL PANTHI
KOTHIYAGHAT, (BARDIYA), Aug 22 - The number of endangered freshwater dolphins in Karnali River , one of the major habitats for the these endangered species has dropped from sixteen to six in the last three years. According to a recent count done by Bardiya National Park ( BNP ) in Karnali River , only six freshwater dolphins were spotted. Ramesh Kumar Thapa, assistant conservation officer of BNP said, six dolphins were spotted at Manaughat, Golalghat and Kothiyaghat areas of the river. "Due to the establishment of Girijapur embankment at 15 kilometers north from the Nepal-India border area, dolphins are facing problem of extinction," he said. According to Thapa, along with the movement of water, freshwater dolphins make their way towards the embankment and get trapped under it. Similarly, increased fishing by locals, as well as Indian fishermen in the border areas, have led to decreased number of small fish, the staple diet for dolphins, thus starving them to death, said Thapa. Dolphins are the first freshwater mammals protected by the country's laws. National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, has also categorized dolphins under the category of threatened species. Out of seven species of dolphins found worldwide, only four live in freshwater. Nepal has one of the four freshwater dolphin species in the world.
Campaign welcomes government decision to half monkey export
August 21, Kathmandu
The Stop Monkey Business Campaign welcomes the government decision to half the export of rhesyus monkeys for biomedical research.
According to a letter received by Swiss animal rights groups Nepal on June 20, 2008 officially cancelled its plans to export monkeys for biomedical research. The letter from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation states that the Wildlife Breeding Policy 2003 does 'not include any clause for allowing export of rhesus monkeys for medical research'.
The Stop Monkey Business Campaign started in 2004 after the Nepal government issued licenses to local breeding centres connected to US primate research centres. In 2008 the campaign was intensified in Europe and the United States, where demonstrations and other protests were held on a monhly base. The campaigners welcome Nepal's decision but wonder if the licenses provided to the two breeding centres have been officially withdrawn.
The campaigners concerned about the fate of the rhesus monkeys which are presently held in the Lele breeding centre. The campaigners request the Nepal government to rehabilitate the monkeys in a professional and caring manner. The monkeys should not be used for any other purpose, killed or randomly released. The older generation deserves to be rehabilitated back into the communities they have been taken from while the generation born in captivity should be placed in a well managed rehabilitation centre where the monkeys are possibly prepared for a life back in the wild. We will continue to pressurize the government untill the last monkey is out of its cage.
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August 21, Kathmandu
The Stop Monkey Business Campaign welcomes the government decision to half the export of rhesyus monkeys for biomedical research.
According to a letter received by Swiss animal rights groups Nepal on June 20, 2008 officially cancelled its plans to export monkeys for biomedical research. The letter from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation states that the Wildlife Breeding Policy 2003 does 'not include any clause for allowing export of rhesus monkeys for medical research'.
The Stop Monkey Business Campaign started in 2004 after the Nepal government issued licenses to local breeding centres connected to US primate research centres. In 2008 the campaign was intensified in Europe and the United States, where demonstrations and other protests were held on a monhly base. The campaigners welcome Nepal's decision but wonder if the licenses provided to the two breeding centres have been officially withdrawn.
The campaigners concerned about the fate of the rhesus monkeys which are presently held in the Lele breeding centre. The campaigners request the Nepal government to rehabilitate the monkeys in a professional and caring manner. The monkeys should not be used for any other purpose, killed or randomly released. The older generation deserves to be rehabilitated back into the communities they have been taken from while the generation born in captivity should be placed in a well managed rehabilitation centre where the monkeys are possibly prepared for a life back in the wild. We will continue to pressurize the government untill the last monkey is out of its cage.
Cops arrest 2 with leopard skin
POST REPORT
NEPALGUNJ, Aug 13 - A team of police personnel of District Police Office, Banke, along with support from Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) on Tuesday evening arrested two people with three leopard skins at Kohalpur, Banke district. The two people involved in the illegal wildlife trade are Gauri Kanta Acharya and Tara Devi Rokaya, according to police. Both were arrested along with three leopard skins measuring more than eight-feet long. Acharya is a district treasurer of Nepal Worker's and Peasants Party (NWPP), said police. The skins handed over to District Forest Office had bullet holes.
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POST REPORT
NEPALGUNJ, Aug 13 - A team of police personnel of District Police Office, Banke, along with support from Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN) on Tuesday evening arrested two people with three leopard skins at Kohalpur, Banke district. The two people involved in the illegal wildlife trade are Gauri Kanta Acharya and Tara Devi Rokaya, according to police. Both were arrested along with three leopard skins measuring more than eight-feet long. Acharya is a district treasurer of Nepal Worker's and Peasants Party (NWPP), said police. The skins handed over to District Forest Office had bullet holes.
Gharial population declining fast
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu,July,3,
The number of gharials, the slender-nosed crocodiles, found only in South Asian rivers, is drastically decreasing due to increasing human activities and pollution in their habitats.The gharials are also hunted for their skin because the locals believe in mystical power of the snouts of male gharials.Nepal had 222 gharials in six river systems — Narayani, Rapti, Kali Gandaki, Sapta Koshi, Karnali and Babai — until 1985 but the number has reduced to 81 and the species is no more found in the Koshi river system.
According to a recent study done by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) with the help of WWF-Nepal, there were 41 gharials in Narayani river, 24 in Rapti, 10 in Babai and six in Karnali.Although Nepal released over 661 gharials in different rivers from the breeding centres in Chitwan and Bardiya, 580 of them failed to cross the age of 30 even though gharials have a life span of 100 years. Gharial is listed as endangered and on Appendix I of the CITES. Narendra Pradhan, an ecologist at the D NPW C, said habitat loss along with intensive fishing and river pollution was the leading cause for declining crocodile population.
A breeding centre in Chitwan often releases gharials in the nearby Narayani river but the environment along the river banks is so polluted that a gharial was found running way from the river bank.
“We were surprised to see that a gharial was walking its way back to the breeding centre days after it was left in the river,” he added. Dams constructed across the river on the Indian side had also restricted free movement of gharials, causing damage to their natural growth, he said.Former acting director general of DNPWC Shyam Bajimaya said that unscientific fishing techniques were also the reasons behind the decreasing number of gharials.
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Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu,July,3,
The number of gharials, the slender-nosed crocodiles, found only in South Asian rivers, is drastically decreasing due to increasing human activities and pollution in their habitats.The gharials are also hunted for their skin because the locals believe in mystical power of the snouts of male gharials.Nepal had 222 gharials in six river systems — Narayani, Rapti, Kali Gandaki, Sapta Koshi, Karnali and Babai — until 1985 but the number has reduced to 81 and the species is no more found in the Koshi river system.
According to a recent study done by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) with the help of WWF-Nepal, there were 41 gharials in Narayani river, 24 in Rapti, 10 in Babai and six in Karnali.Although Nepal released over 661 gharials in different rivers from the breeding centres in Chitwan and Bardiya, 580 of them failed to cross the age of 30 even though gharials have a life span of 100 years. Gharial is listed as endangered and on Appendix I of the CITES. Narendra Pradhan, an ecologist at the D NPW C, said habitat loss along with intensive fishing and river pollution was the leading cause for declining crocodile population.
A breeding centre in Chitwan often releases gharials in the nearby Narayani river but the environment along the river banks is so polluted that a gharial was found running way from the river bank.
“We were surprised to see that a gharial was walking its way back to the breeding centre days after it was left in the river,” he added. Dams constructed across the river on the Indian side had also restricted free movement of gharials, causing damage to their natural growth, he said.Former acting director general of DNPWC Shyam Bajimaya said that unscientific fishing techniques were also the reasons behind the decreasing number of gharials.
US professor in wildlife row
Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu,August5
International experts, IUCN found flouting law.
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has said that it would formulate strict regulations on the duties and limitations of “international experts” who often visit protected areas and induce locals to indulge in illegal activities.The problem of intervention of international experts in protected areas came to light after an American expert was found involved in illegally declaring a certain area of the Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) as ‘Khumbu Community Conservation Area (KCCA)’ in May, without informing the government and other non-government stakeholders working for the conservation of the region.Sources said Prof Stan Stevenson of MIT University (US), had encouraged the locals to declare three villages — Namche, Chaurikharka and Khumjung Valley — inside the Sagarmatha National Park as independent conservation area.The professor is also reportedly scheduled to present his “success story” at the World Conservation Congress, to be held in October in Barcelona.The sources also said the professor had promised to let some of the locals fly to Barcelona and had awarded them with cash.“The activities of the American professor has opened our eyes. We can now imagine to what extent the so-called experts might have been influencing the locals for their vested interest,” said Annapurna Das, the director general at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC).He added that the department would soon form a policy, which will describe what the experts,who go to the conservation area, can do and what they cannot.“In addition, we will prepare a sheet with government rules and make them sign it so that we would be able to take action against the persons if they are found crossing the limit,” he said.He also said that the department had summoned the warden of the Sagarmatha National Park Tulsi Ram Sharma and interrogated him over his duty and his possible role in the illegal declaration of Khumbu Community Conservation Area inside Sagarmatha National Park.“Investigation with Prof Stevenson is also going on,” he added.The department has also interrogated the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which was also allegedly involved in the illegal declaration.The global conservation body has stated that the organisation itself has no involvement in whatever the professor had done there, though he was a member of it.The Sagarmatha National Park has already come into controversy several times due to unauthorised development activities in the area, which has been enlisted as World Heritage Site of U NESC O.Meanwhile, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is going to hold a national consultation meeting with the IUCN state members on Friday to come up with the organisation’s formal stand on the issue.
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Himalayan News Service
Kathmandu,August5
International experts, IUCN found flouting law.
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has said that it would formulate strict regulations on the duties and limitations of “international experts” who often visit protected areas and induce locals to indulge in illegal activities.The problem of intervention of international experts in protected areas came to light after an American expert was found involved in illegally declaring a certain area of the Sagarmatha National Park (SNP) as ‘Khumbu Community Conservation Area (KCCA)’ in May, without informing the government and other non-government stakeholders working for the conservation of the region.Sources said Prof Stan Stevenson of MIT University (US), had encouraged the locals to declare three villages — Namche, Chaurikharka and Khumjung Valley — inside the Sagarmatha National Park as independent conservation area.The professor is also reportedly scheduled to present his “success story” at the World Conservation Congress, to be held in October in Barcelona.The sources also said the professor had promised to let some of the locals fly to Barcelona and had awarded them with cash.“The activities of the American professor has opened our eyes. We can now imagine to what extent the so-called experts might have been influencing the locals for their vested interest,” said Annapurna Das, the director general at the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC).He added that the department would soon form a policy, which will describe what the experts,who go to the conservation area, can do and what they cannot.“In addition, we will prepare a sheet with government rules and make them sign it so that we would be able to take action against the persons if they are found crossing the limit,” he said.He also said that the department had summoned the warden of the Sagarmatha National Park Tulsi Ram Sharma and interrogated him over his duty and his possible role in the illegal declaration of Khumbu Community Conservation Area inside Sagarmatha National Park.“Investigation with Prof Stevenson is also going on,” he added.The department has also interrogated the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), which was also allegedly involved in the illegal declaration.The global conservation body has stated that the organisation itself has no involvement in whatever the professor had done there, though he was a member of it.The Sagarmatha National Park has already come into controversy several times due to unauthorised development activities in the area, which has been enlisted as World Heritage Site of U NESC O.Meanwhile, the International Union for Conservation of Nature is going to hold a national consultation meeting with the IUCN state members on Friday to come up with the organisation’s formal stand on the issue.
Red Pandas found in Langtang National Park
RASUWA, June 1: The finding of Red Pandas within the Langtang National Park area has encouraged conservationists.
A team of conservationists led by lecturer Hari Prasad Sharma, department of zoology (TU), had recently found one Red Panda each in Chandanbari area of Rasuwa and Dhadepani area of Nuwakot. It is believed that the areas harbor around 100 Red Pandas. The areas lie at an altitude of 2,800 to 4,000 metres above sea level.
The mission was initiated by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation’s Himalayan Landscape Project supported by WWF.
The Langtang National Park said it was preparing a long-term conservation strategy to protect the Red Pandas by securing food and habitat for them so that internal and foreign tourists could be lured to the area and contribute to the living condition of the people living in the region.
Though a study conducted by Dr Prahlad Yangden in 1982 had found 73Red Pandas in Chandanbari area of Rasuwa, they could not be conserved due to lack of funds and technical expertise.
Joint secretary at the Department said the department, national park and the landscape project would prepare the strategy after collecting suggestions from the locals and the stakeholders concerned and the main focus of the strategy would be conservation of Red Pandas.
Red Pandas are 60-cm long, have 40-cm long tail and weigh 3 to 6 kg. They copulate only during the winter season and a female Red Panda can give birth to four offspring at a time. Experts said it won’t be difficult to raise the number of Red Pandas once food sources and habitat for them is secured.
Lecturer Sharma said Red Pandas enter adulthood within a year and get separated from mothers at around 1.8 years of age. He said dogs, leopards and vultures are some of the natural predators of Red Pandas and they also need to be protected from illegal wildlife traders. Red pandas have an average lifespan of 14 years.
Officials said people would cooperate them in conservation of Red Pandas as a people-centric approach would be adopted to protect them.
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RASUWA, June 1: The finding of Red Pandas within the Langtang National Park area has encouraged conservationists.
A team of conservationists led by lecturer Hari Prasad Sharma, department of zoology (TU), had recently found one Red Panda each in Chandanbari area of Rasuwa and Dhadepani area of Nuwakot. It is believed that the areas harbor around 100 Red Pandas. The areas lie at an altitude of 2,800 to 4,000 metres above sea level.
The mission was initiated by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation’s Himalayan Landscape Project supported by WWF.
The Langtang National Park said it was preparing a long-term conservation strategy to protect the Red Pandas by securing food and habitat for them so that internal and foreign tourists could be lured to the area and contribute to the living condition of the people living in the region.
Though a study conducted by Dr Prahlad Yangden in 1982 had found 73Red Pandas in Chandanbari area of Rasuwa, they could not be conserved due to lack of funds and technical expertise.
Joint secretary at the Department said the department, national park and the landscape project would prepare the strategy after collecting suggestions from the locals and the stakeholders concerned and the main focus of the strategy would be conservation of Red Pandas.
Red Pandas are 60-cm long, have 40-cm long tail and weigh 3 to 6 kg. They copulate only during the winter season and a female Red Panda can give birth to four offspring at a time. Experts said it won’t be difficult to raise the number of Red Pandas once food sources and habitat for them is secured.
Lecturer Sharma said Red Pandas enter adulthood within a year and get separated from mothers at around 1.8 years of age. He said dogs, leopards and vultures are some of the natural predators of Red Pandas and they also need to be protected from illegal wildlife traders. Red pandas have an average lifespan of 14 years.
Officials said people would cooperate them in conservation of Red Pandas as a people-centric approach would be adopted to protect them.
Bardiya sees ten rhinos killed in ten months
Seven one-horned rhinos of the ten that died inside Bardiya National Park (BNP) in the past 10 months were killed by poachers, raising serious concern over the very survival of these endangered species, reports Kantipur Daily.
The remaining three rhinos had died due to natural causes, according to Fadindra Kharel, chief conservation officer of the BNP.
Rampant poaching of rhinos inside the park is said to be the main cause behind the number of the endangered species going down so drastically.
"The rhino census conducted last year had showed that there were 31 rhinos inside the park, but at present there are only 18 to 20 rhinos inside the park," he said.
In a bid to save the one-horned rhinos from extinction and increase their number through reproduction, the government had shifted 83 rhinos from Chitwan National Park during the period between 1986 and 2002, the reports said.
"After the seurity posts inside the BNP were moved elsewhere during the state of emergency, all 83 rhinos at Babai valley and Karnali riverside were killed by poachers," Kharel told the daily.
Following the peace agreement, 14 security posts were installed inside BNP for the security of animals inside the park.
And now 4 additional security posts are in the offing, said Colonel Suraj Giri of the Nepal Army (NA) Batallion that is responsible for overseeing the security arrangments inside the park.
However, a month ago the very security personnel deployed to ensure the security of animals inside the park were found involved in poaching. On April 26, one serving Nepal Army (NA) soldier and three NA deserters were arrested in connection with the killing of a rhino inside BNP. nepalnews.com June 01 08
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Seven one-horned rhinos of the ten that died inside Bardiya National Park (BNP) in the past 10 months were killed by poachers, raising serious concern over the very survival of these endangered species, reports Kantipur Daily.
The remaining three rhinos had died due to natural causes, according to Fadindra Kharel, chief conservation officer of the BNP.
Rampant poaching of rhinos inside the park is said to be the main cause behind the number of the endangered species going down so drastically.
"The rhino census conducted last year had showed that there were 31 rhinos inside the park, but at present there are only 18 to 20 rhinos inside the park," he said.
In a bid to save the one-horned rhinos from extinction and increase their number through reproduction, the government had shifted 83 rhinos from Chitwan National Park during the period between 1986 and 2002, the reports said.
"After the seurity posts inside the BNP were moved elsewhere during the state of emergency, all 83 rhinos at Babai valley and Karnali riverside were killed by poachers," Kharel told the daily.
Following the peace agreement, 14 security posts were installed inside BNP for the security of animals inside the park.
And now 4 additional security posts are in the offing, said Colonel Suraj Giri of the Nepal Army (NA) Batallion that is responsible for overseeing the security arrangments inside the park.
However, a month ago the very security personnel deployed to ensure the security of animals inside the park were found involved in poaching. On April 26, one serving Nepal Army (NA) soldier and three NA deserters were arrested in connection with the killing of a rhino inside BNP. nepalnews.com June 01 08
45th day since Kangchenjunga Tragedy
6 November 2006 Kathmandu, Nepal – Four conservation organizations organized a memorial programme today to mark the 45th day since the tragic helicopter crash in Kangchenjunga that resulted in the loss of all 24 on board. WWF Nepal, IUCN Nepal, Wildlife Watch Group and The Mountain Institute commemorated the lives of the conservation martyrs by sharing tangible short- and long-term ways in which to remember them during a two-hour discussion at the Russian Cultural Centre in Kathmandu. Partner organizations, Government of Nepal officials, conservationists, and bereaved friends and relatives attended the programme where four future activities were introduced: dedicated display spaces, a memorial book, a conservation learning centre and a conservation project. The question and answer session was followed by the distribution of commitment forms that solicits support. The forms will also be available on the websites of the four organizations. The organizers said that they continue to mourn the passing away of such exemplary leaders and are seeking to find meaningful ways to remember them. The main objective of the programme is to commemorate the way they lived to inspire a new generation of young conservationists to take forward the vision of the conservation champions. They added that the success of the projects would depend on everyone working together and generous support from the government, international organisations, families, friends and well wishers
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6 November 2006 Kathmandu, Nepal – Four conservation organizations organized a memorial programme today to mark the 45th day since the tragic helicopter crash in Kangchenjunga that resulted in the loss of all 24 on board. WWF Nepal, IUCN Nepal, Wildlife Watch Group and The Mountain Institute commemorated the lives of the conservation martyrs by sharing tangible short- and long-term ways in which to remember them during a two-hour discussion at the Russian Cultural Centre in Kathmandu. Partner organizations, Government of Nepal officials, conservationists, and bereaved friends and relatives attended the programme where four future activities were introduced: dedicated display spaces, a memorial book, a conservation learning centre and a conservation project. The question and answer session was followed by the distribution of commitment forms that solicits support. The forms will also be available on the websites of the four organizations. The organizers said that they continue to mourn the passing away of such exemplary leaders and are seeking to find meaningful ways to remember them. The main objective of the programme is to commemorate the way they lived to inspire a new generation of young conservationists to take forward the vision of the conservation champions. They added that the success of the projects would depend on everyone working together and generous support from the government, international organisations, families, friends and well wishers
Tragic demise of Conservationists
Kathmandu , September 26 We are greatly shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of distinguished personalities devoted in the field of conservation in the tragic Helicopter crash on Saturday, 23 rd September 2006 . Twenty four persons aboard including high officials of Government of Nepal, Diplomat and conservationists passed away when the Helicopter crashed in Taplejung district of Eastern Himalayan region of Nepal . The persons aboard were on the return trip from the handing-over ceremony for the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area project. We are mourned losing distinguished personalities of the conservation field, high officials of government, valued colleagues, friends and well wishers. The Wildlife Watch Group (WWG) expresses its deep sorrow concerning the deaths of the members of Advisory Committee of recently concluded International Conference on Conservation in Conflict, Mr. Pauli Mustonen, Chargé d'Affairs of Embassy of Finland, Dr. Chandra P. Gurung, Country Representative, WWF Nepal, Dr. Tirtha Man Maskey, AsRSG Co-Chair, South Asia, Dr. Damodar Prashad Parajuli, Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Guest Invitee; Participants of the Int'l Conference Ms. Jennifer Headley Coordinator, WWF UK (Canadian), Yeshi Chhoden Lama, WWF Nepal, Dr. Bijnan Acharya, Program Dev. Specialist, USAID; Mr. Hem Raj Bhandari, Nepal Television who was media person during the conference, Mr. Mingma Norbu Sherpa who supported to WWG during informal group and had inspired for its institutionalization and Mr. Gopal Rai, State Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation who had always been supporting towards WWG's program since he became the Minister. WWG expresses deep sympathy to the family members and loved ones of all the deceased persons and wish for peace to their departed souls.
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Kathmandu , September 26 We are greatly shocked and saddened by the sudden demise of distinguished personalities devoted in the field of conservation in the tragic Helicopter crash on Saturday, 23 rd September 2006 . Twenty four persons aboard including high officials of Government of Nepal, Diplomat and conservationists passed away when the Helicopter crashed in Taplejung district of Eastern Himalayan region of Nepal . The persons aboard were on the return trip from the handing-over ceremony for the Kanchenjunga Conservation Area project. We are mourned losing distinguished personalities of the conservation field, high officials of government, valued colleagues, friends and well wishers. The Wildlife Watch Group (WWG) expresses its deep sorrow concerning the deaths of the members of Advisory Committee of recently concluded International Conference on Conservation in Conflict, Mr. Pauli Mustonen, Chargé d'Affairs of Embassy of Finland, Dr. Chandra P. Gurung, Country Representative, WWF Nepal, Dr. Tirtha Man Maskey, AsRSG Co-Chair, South Asia, Dr. Damodar Prashad Parajuli, Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, Guest Invitee; Participants of the Int'l Conference Ms. Jennifer Headley Coordinator, WWF UK (Canadian), Yeshi Chhoden Lama, WWF Nepal, Dr. Bijnan Acharya, Program Dev. Specialist, USAID; Mr. Hem Raj Bhandari, Nepal Television who was media person during the conference, Mr. Mingma Norbu Sherpa who supported to WWG during informal group and had inspired for its institutionalization and Mr. Gopal Rai, State Minister of Forest and Soil Conservation who had always been supporting towards WWG's program since he became the Minister. WWG expresses deep sympathy to the family members and loved ones of all the deceased persons and wish for peace to their departed souls.
Conservation Martyrs
13th Day Memorial Service of the persons who died in the Helicoptor crash in Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in Taplejung district, Nepal on September 23, 2006 has been held in Kathmandu (Maitighar Mandala) by lighting (diyo, candle). Hundreds of people participated Spontaneously and lit diyo and candle in memory of the deceased persons. Declaring the deceased personalities "Conservation Martyrs" Wildlife Watch Group (WWG), Environmental Camp for Conservation Awareness (ECCA), IUCN Nepal, Nepalese Federation of Forest Resource User Group (NEFUG) and Nepal National Committee-IUCN had organized the program.
Family members, friends, Colleagues and general public were gathered at the program. A booklet containing brief biography of the deceased personalities also has been published.
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13th Day Memorial Service of the persons who died in the Helicoptor crash in Kanchenjunga Conservation Area in Taplejung district, Nepal on September 23, 2006 has been held in Kathmandu (Maitighar Mandala) by lighting (diyo, candle). Hundreds of people participated Spontaneously and lit diyo and candle in memory of the deceased persons. Declaring the deceased personalities "Conservation Martyrs" Wildlife Watch Group (WWG), Environmental Camp for Conservation Awareness (ECCA), IUCN Nepal, Nepalese Federation of Forest Resource User Group (NEFUG) and Nepal National Committee-IUCN had organized the program.
Family members, friends, Colleagues and general public were gathered at the program. A booklet containing brief biography of the deceased personalities also has been published.
Int'l Conference Concludes
International Coalition for Conservation in Conflict Formed Kathmandu, September 10 The International Conference on Conservation in Conflict has been concluded in Kathmandu, Nepal formulating the Kathmandu Declaration on September 7, 2006. The Declaration is to help promote strategies to manage conservation efforts during and after armed conflict situation. The Wildlife Watch Group organized the conference with Embassy of Finland, WWF Nepal, The Mountain Institute and IUCN Nepal. The conference formed International Coalition for Conservation in Conflict (ICCC) to promote intersectoral and multicultural dialogues to increase awareness, public support and development codes of conducts and operational guidance during and post conflict. For immediate secretariat support of the ICCC, the organizer WWG was called upon to provide the support during the closing ceremony of the conference. The conference held from Sep 5-7, 2006 in Kathmandu was participated by over 22 international participants representing different organizations in 18 countries namely - Afghanistan, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Finland, India, Kosovo, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom and United States, and 44 in country participants from different I/NGOs working in the field of biodiversity and concern government institutions. Representatives of all participating countries presented country paper that portrayed the state of biodiversity conservation and efforts they have been making in/after armed conflict situation. In the concluding session of the conference, Dr. Pushpa Rajkarnikar, Member of National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal was present as the Chief Guest, which was chaired by Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha. Formerly the conference was jointly inaugurated by Mr. Gopal Rai, State Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation and Mr. Pauli Mustonen, Charge d'Affairs of Embassy of Finland to Nepal. Delivering his speech during the inaugural ceremony, State Minister Rai said that armed conflict was currently a matter of global threat which has impacted not only Asia but the whole World and should the conference discuss the whole ranges of issues in a free and frank manner so as to achieve the envisaged objective of the conference. In his inaugural speech Mr. Mustonen said that conservation should go uninterrupted even during conflict situation. From the chair, Mr. Mangal Man Shakya, the Conference Director and Chairman of WWG said that in the humans should take a deep sense of responsibility to take care of our earth and all its gifts to mankind. He explained how Nepal, which set several examples of success in conservation, has become unfortunate witness to record the adverse effect of armed conflict on the environment because of the armed conflict.
In the inaugural ceremony delivering keynote speech IUCN Vice-President Mr. Javed Jabbar said that armed conflict has presented conservationists with a new set of challenges and advocated the sustainable use of natural resources for the overall well-being of people. He urged to promote cross-sectoral collaboration within government and civil society, and called for a more proactive role of the conservation movement in addressing post conflict scenario as an essential part of sustainable development in the conflict-ridden countries. Mr. Brian Peniston, Himal Program Director, The Mountain Institute, Dr. Chandra Gurung, Country Representative, WWF Nepal, Mr. Prabhu Budhathoki, Country Representative, IUCN Nepal and Dr. Tirth Man Maskey, Co-Chair of Asian Rhino Specialist Group also delivered remarks speech in the ceremony.
The conference began with a minute of silence in tribute to those all conservation workers who lost their lives while on duty in the armed conflict in Nepal and around the world
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International Coalition for Conservation in Conflict Formed Kathmandu, September 10 The International Conference on Conservation in Conflict has been concluded in Kathmandu, Nepal formulating the Kathmandu Declaration on September 7, 2006. The Declaration is to help promote strategies to manage conservation efforts during and after armed conflict situation. The Wildlife Watch Group organized the conference with Embassy of Finland, WWF Nepal, The Mountain Institute and IUCN Nepal. The conference formed International Coalition for Conservation in Conflict (ICCC) to promote intersectoral and multicultural dialogues to increase awareness, public support and development codes of conducts and operational guidance during and post conflict. For immediate secretariat support of the ICCC, the organizer WWG was called upon to provide the support during the closing ceremony of the conference. The conference held from Sep 5-7, 2006 in Kathmandu was participated by over 22 international participants representing different organizations in 18 countries namely - Afghanistan, Bolivia, Bangladesh, Cambodia, Colombia, Finland, India, Kosovo, Liberia, Nepal, Pakistan, Philippines, Sri Lanka, Syria, Thailand, Uganda, United Kingdom and United States, and 44 in country participants from different I/NGOs working in the field of biodiversity and concern government institutions. Representatives of all participating countries presented country paper that portrayed the state of biodiversity conservation and efforts they have been making in/after armed conflict situation. In the concluding session of the conference, Dr. Pushpa Rajkarnikar, Member of National Planning Commission, Government of Nepal was present as the Chief Guest, which was chaired by Dr. Tirtha Bahadur Shrestha. Formerly the conference was jointly inaugurated by Mr. Gopal Rai, State Minister for Forest and Soil Conservation and Mr. Pauli Mustonen, Charge d'Affairs of Embassy of Finland to Nepal. Delivering his speech during the inaugural ceremony, State Minister Rai said that armed conflict was currently a matter of global threat which has impacted not only Asia but the whole World and should the conference discuss the whole ranges of issues in a free and frank manner so as to achieve the envisaged objective of the conference. In his inaugural speech Mr. Mustonen said that conservation should go uninterrupted even during conflict situation. From the chair, Mr. Mangal Man Shakya, the Conference Director and Chairman of WWG said that in the humans should take a deep sense of responsibility to take care of our earth and all its gifts to mankind. He explained how Nepal, which set several examples of success in conservation, has become unfortunate witness to record the adverse effect of armed conflict on the environment because of the armed conflict.
In the inaugural ceremony delivering keynote speech IUCN Vice-President Mr. Javed Jabbar said that armed conflict has presented conservationists with a new set of challenges and advocated the sustainable use of natural resources for the overall well-being of people. He urged to promote cross-sectoral collaboration within government and civil society, and called for a more proactive role of the conservation movement in addressing post conflict scenario as an essential part of sustainable development in the conflict-ridden countries. Mr. Brian Peniston, Himal Program Director, The Mountain Institute, Dr. Chandra Gurung, Country Representative, WWF Nepal, Mr. Prabhu Budhathoki, Country Representative, IUCN Nepal and Dr. Tirth Man Maskey, Co-Chair of Asian Rhino Specialist Group also delivered remarks speech in the ceremony.
The conference began with a minute of silence in tribute to those all conservation workers who lost their lives while on duty in the armed conflict in Nepal and around the world
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