September 5, 2010
Four arrested with Tiger skin
After 5 months of long and tough surveillance and monitoring by WCN, four individuals - Ashok Keshari, 19, Hariya VDC 7, Bara, Raju Yadav, 21, Karaya VDC, Bara, Binod Mahato, 42, Shreepur 14, Birgunj Municipality and Jay Narayan Yadav, 48, Karaya VDC 7 Bara were arrested from Sundhara while trying to sell a nearly 7 feet long tiger skin this morning. They were staying at Simrik Lodge, Sundhara.
Source: WCN
September 2, 2010
Death knell for Red Panda
Rampant poaching, habitat loss to blame
The illegal trade of animal parts has posed further threat to the already endangered Red Panda, whose population has dramatically declined by more than half over the last 50 years in its habitat countries, according to experts. “The illegal trade of these animals particularly for their fur and meat is high between the regional countries that have created serious threat for the existence of the wildlife,” said Prahlad Yonzon of Resources Himalayas who conducted the first study on Red Pandas in 1990.
The total estimated population of these protected species is around 314 in Nepal while it is less than 10,000 in Red Panda range countries, namely Nepal, India, China, Bhutan, Burma and Laos. Yonzon said besides the uncontrolled trade, severe habitat destruction and fragmented habitats inside the protected areas has created problems for the protection of these animals, which are distributed to a narrow altitudinal range between 1,500m to 4,000m in the high mountain ranges. “Livestock grazing and timber extraction for commercial purposes are destroying bamboo at an alarming rate at national parks and reserves,” he said.
Meanwhile, to identify the threats faced by these species and recommend appropriate conservation strategies to maintain the viable population, the Population and Habitat Viability Assessment (PHVA) Workshop is being organised from 2-6 September in Nepal.According to Shanta Raj Gyawali, national coordinator of the workshop, this is the first time that the PHVA of the Red Panda is being conducted in its range countries.
“The major objective of the workshop is to create a long-lasting conservation strategy for the species to ensure its survival in its range countries,” he said. Around 60 experts from different range countries are attending the workshop organised by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) and National Trust for Nature Conservation in support of the World Wildlife Fund. Recently, DNPWC has endorsed and implemented Red Panda Action Plan for Langtang National Park and is on a process of drafting National Action Plan for Red Panda Conservation.
“There is a need of regional cooperation to control the wildlife trade and ensure long-term protection of the endangered species by managing their natural habitats and foster participatory biodiversity conservation,” Gynwali said. In Nepal, the Red Panda are reported to be found in seven protected areas, namely Kanchanjunga Conservation Area, Makalu Barun National Park, Sagarmatha National Park, Langtang National Park, Annapurna Conservation Area, Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve and Rara National Park.
Source : Pragati Shahi, The Kathmandu Post
August 31, 2010
Python rescued
WCN Chitwan Unit resuced a 2 and half feet long python from Ratnanagar 8, Mangalpur, Chitwan today. The python has been handed over to Tikauli Guard Post, Tikauli, Chitwan.
Source: WCN
August 18, 2010
Female rhino found dead in West Chitwan
An adult female rhino was found dead in Gyaneshwar Community Forest located in Mangalpur area of west Chitwan, Wednesday, August 18, 2010. District Forest Office, Chitwan said, the rhino could have been electrocuted as naked wire was found near the rhino's body. Forest officials have ruled out the involvement of poachers in the rhino's death as its horn and the hoof are safe. Despite increased surveillance, six rhinos were killed in national parks and wild life reserves of Nepal in the past two months.
There are some 408 rhinos in the Chitwan National Park alone. The government has classified rhinos as endangered species.
Source: www.nepalnews.com
August 9, 2010
Two arrested with two bear biles and a rhino horn
Nepal Police arrested 2 individuals - Mingmar Tamang, 27, of Ward No 4, Goljung VDC, Rasuwa district and Kabod Gurung, 18, of Ward No. 2, Marpha VDC, Mustang district with a rhino horn and 2 bear biles from Ward No. 4, Nilopul, Kathmandu district on August 8, 2010. The rhino horn is 1kg and 278gms and 10 inches tall. The bear biles weigh 250 gms and 146 gms respectively.
Source: WCN
