Elephant Conservation in Nepal - a one day workshop

In the wake of the recent human elephant conflict in Bahundangi, Jhapa, various concerned stakeholders stressed on the need of developing an elephant corridor and in conducting programs that relate to human and elephant coexistence in a workshop organized by Wildlife Conservation Nepal on July 17, 2009 at Biratnagar. In a workshop entitled ‘Elephant Conservation in Nepal’ the local communities also stressed on the construction of water holes on the elephant routes so that they are restricted to these territories. Water holes constructed by WCN were taken as an example as more elephants were seen around it. It was also realized that due to lack of awareness and techniques, elephants are more prone to incidents like gun shots which is endangering the mega fauna. This needs to be controlled by providing training to the enforcement agencies on techniques that can be used to avoid killing of elephants. Regular maintenance of solar fencing and the crowd outside of the local community that gather in the prone areas also needs to be controlled as the masses seem to intensify the situation more tense.

The speakers during the workshop were  Dr. Narendrababu Man Pradhan, Elephant Expert and Chief Warden, Chitwan National Park, Dr, Chuda B Shrestha, Advocate, SLRC and Trustee, WCN, Mr. Nilambar Mishra, Warden, Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR), Mr. Krishna R. Basukala, Regional Forest Directorate, Ms. Renu Shah, Chairman, Buffer Zone Management Committee, KTWR and Mr. Nabin Baidya, Program Coordinator for WCN Eastern Nepal.

WCN since the past one year has been actively involved in creating awareness amongst school students and local communities about how elephants and human can coexist, construction of water holes in the elephant routes for elephants, identification of elephant route and assessment of affected families.