September 7, 2009
Wildlife Traders Arrested
Acting on the information provided by Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN), Nepal Police arrested Sadhu Ram Dhakal, 52, of Sanghkosh VDC 2, Dhading district and Sher Bahadur Tamang, 30, of Chyangling VDC 9, Gorkha district with 4 common leopard skins on September 7, 2009. The convicted were arrested from Kalanki while trying to sell the products. This is the third seizure made in a row in the month of September.
Photo : Seized wildlife products (WCN)
Source: WCN
September 7, 2009
Four stripped Tigers found in Parsa reserve
The population of striped tigers at the Parsa Wildlife Reserve is four, national news agency reported citing a census recently conducted by the Wildlife reserve. There are four striped tigers inside the conservation area, said assistant conservation officer Gopal Ghimire. This is the first time any census was carried out at Parsa Wildlife Reserve. The census was conducted over the past two years.He said the number of the endangered big cat is 131 in the country.
Source: www.nepalnews.com
September 7, 2009
Court relief for Chitwan rhino poacher,much to locals' dismay
As many as 100 rhino poachers, who are now serving their jail term, will walk out of prison far before their punishment slapped by authorities, thanks to a court decision to minimise the penalty. As the Appellate Court in Heatuda on November 17, 2008 decided to minimise the punishment, more than hundred rhino poachers will be freed on June 2010. The judges —Girish Chandra Lal and Uddhav Prasad Banskota — had taken the decision. The National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029 has the provision of Rs 50,000 to 100,000 cash fine and five to 15 years of jail term to the poachers.
"The authority of Chitwan National Park had decided to slap 15-year imprisonment on them on the charge of their involvement in rhino poaching. But as the court reversed the decision and ordered for five-year imprisonment, they are sure to walk out of the jail sooner,” said Khagaraj Khanal, representative of Baghmara Buffer Zone Community Forest.
After eight months of the decision of the court, 35 locals from Chitwan are here in Kathmandu to urge government to look seriously on the poaching activities of one horned rhino in Chitwan and review the decision of the court. “Our appeals to authorities concerned in Chitwan failed to yield any outcome, which compelled to come to Kathmandu as the government doesn’t listen to the voice of people outside Valley,” Khanal said.
The team has been campaigning for long time to save the rhinos and collected signature of more than 70,000 people for the cause. “It’s the last time we’re urging the government,” said Puspa Raj Shrestha, member of Chitrasen Buffer Zone Community Forest. “But, in case our pleas were turned down, then we will boycott all leaders in Chitwan and decided future course of agitation ourselves.”
The locals are firm in their belief as the poachers those scot free will again involve in the “money-minting business”, as was proved in the past. “Such court ruling has encouraged the poachers for further poaching which will one day clear up the rare species from Chitwan,” Khanal argued. Many poachers, including Pemba Lama (Yakche), Kancha Lama Waiba, Purna Bahadur Pakhrin, Bhim Bahadur Syangten, Hasta Bahadur Tamang, Indra Bahadur Ghalan, Rajesh Gurung, Indra Bahadur Gurung, Bhim Bahadur Bhujel, Gokal Panta, will walk out of the prison next year as per the court ruling.
Source : The Himalayan Times
September 6, 2009
Vulture Population dwindling, four species face extinction threat
Although Nepal boasts of having eight of nine vulture species which are found in South Asia, the indiscriminate use of Diclofenac – a veterinary medicine used to treat livestock, compounded by lack of awareness programs, has been gradually reducing the number of such rare species. Consequently, the whole ecosystem of food chain has been threatened.
There are 23 vultures’ species around the world of which nine are found in South Asia.” Of those found in Nepal four species are critically endangered,” says ornithologist Dr Hem Sagar Baral. They are slender billed vulture, white –rumped vulture, red – headed vulture and Egyptian vulture.
According to him, there is about 90 per cent decreases in the number of these vultures within the last few decades. Several studies carried out in the past also pointed at a painkiller Diclofenac, which is used for the treatment of domestic animals, as the main cause for 97 per cent of death of vulture in the country.
Although its use rampant across the country earlier, the government has banned the sale of some due to the pressure of conservationist and animal right activists. Scientists found that Diclofenac residues appeared present in 75 per cent of dead vultures as they scavenge on livestock treated with drug shortly before death. Diclofenac causes kidney damage, increased serum uric acid concentrations, gout, and death.
Vultures have an important role in scavenging and clearing up carcasses.” The rapid declination of vultures in Asia has caused a huge increase in the number of stray dogs as they get enough carcasses in the absence of the vultures. Similarly, jackals’ number too is going high. This ultimately has increased the risk of the fatal diseases like rabies,” claims Baral.
To conserve the vultures in Nepal, three vulture restaurant – one in each in Nawalparasi, Shuklaphanta, and Lumbini – are in operation where the meat of the animals provided are free of Diclofenac. Baral, who is the main brain of the concept, says “It’s not too late to conserve the vultures and the restaurant have defilitely helped increase the number in certain areas. But, the total number across the country is still falling sharply.”
“Two separate teams of researchers are deployed in Koshi Tapu and one in Langtang are presently in the field for continous monitoring on the vulture population,” Baral reveals.To promote awareness all over the world, Hawk Conservancy Trust, Endangered Wildlife Trust, WWF and Birdlife South Africa – together with the other organizations of more than 30 countries – declared September 5, as the International Vultures Awareness Day recently. Although various awareness programs and rallies are schedule in Nawalparasi, Lumbini, and Palpa districts, Baral points out the need of such programs all over the country.“All the communities at the local level should be informed about the importance of the existence of the vultures and the present condition,” he adds.
Source: The Himalayan Times
September 4, 2009
CNP to implement new security policy
The Chitwan National Park is all set to introduce a new security policy to check rampant poaching of wild animals. Chief Conservation Officer at the park Narendra Babu Man Pradhan said the new policy would use mapping technique as a means to step up security in the national park. “The mapping of the park has started from Wednesday,” Pradhan said. A task-force under the co-ordination of Director of the National Park and Wildlife Department Shiva Raj Bhatta has already been formed to chalk out the new policy following a two-day meeting of the department and security officials at Sauraha. The task force will study and monitor the current security situation of the park for around 45 days before formulating the new policy.
The park authorities informed that the plan to use aerial patrolling had been dropped for lack of funds. It also admitted that poaching had increased in recent days. However, they claimed that poaching would be significantly come down once the new security mechanism would be put in place.
The Chitwan National Park, the first national park of Nepal, was established some 36 years ago. Altogether 47 posts in four sectors -- Sauraha in east, Amaltari in west, Madithori in south and Kasara in center -- have been set up for the security of wild animals.
The park is considered the second largest habitat for rhino in the world that was home to some 800 rhinos back in 1950. However, the recent poaching spree has brought the number of rhinos down to 408. The park is also home to 56 species of mammals, 526 species of birds, reptiles and amphibians, and 120 species of fish. However, poaching has threatened the existence of endangered species and other animals alike.
The park staffers currently man 16 posts themselves. While they work with Nepal Army (NA) in another 18 posts, the rest of the 13 posts are looked after solely by NA soldiers. The staffers claim that they are not able to focus on wildlife security as they also have to tend to conservation centers themselves. The national park also houses breeding centers for crocodiles, elephants, vultures and tortoise which needs constant attention of park employees.
Source: Republica
