October 31, 2009
Tiger's flagship species status mean a lot to endangered species
The IUCN Red List of endangered species says it all. Of the 1,065 different animal species found in Nepal, nine are critically endangered, a conservation status that means the species has an extremely high risk of becoming extinct in the wild, or completely extinct in the near future. No, the tiger isn't part of the nine, nor is the rhino. Instead, they are all lesser-known species, mostly birds, and the Gharial.
Why is Nepal focusing so much on the survival of the tiger? Or, for that matter, why are most conservation programmes in Asia directed towards the apex predator, when there are many more species that require immediate attention to their survival?
The answer, according to Prahlad Yonzon, a conservationist, lies in the fact that out of all the flagship species—species chosen to represent an environmental cause—the tiger is perhaps the "most iconic", and international donors are "very interested" in investing in tiger conservation programmes as compared with "others". Call it the big cat's popular and romanticised appeal, even more glamourised by television programmes and safari serials.
But is that reasonable? Mangal Man Shakya of the Wildlife Watch Group puts it blatantly. "The tiger and rhino survival debates continue only because of external funding." Hem Sagar Baral, ornithologist and pioneer of the vulture conservation programmes, agrees. "There are flaws in the traditional flagship species perception. We have been led to believe that a normal tiger population in an area means other fauna in the area are conserved properly. But that is not necessarily true."
Despite objections, funding for tiger projects is much higher than any other conservation project in the region. According to a study done by the Zoological Society of London in 2007, at least $41 million (Rs. 3.07 billion) was spent by international donors for tiger conservation projects over the period 1998 to 2005. That is a lot of money by any standard. Especially in a poor country like Nepal, conservation programmes are exclusively driven by the donors. "There has been no word on the imminent extinction of the Gangetic Dolphin, when the species is equally, if not more, endangered than the tiger. Nepal's conservation programme is exclusively donor-driven," says Baral.
Shakya has another question for the tiger survival debate. "They say that at the beginning of the 20th century, there were a 100,000 tigers, a population which declined to 4,000 by the 1960's. Is there any specific case-study that can identify how this depletion has affected the ecosystem?"
Tiger experts disagree over the idea that tiger programmes do not help other species. "Tigers need a vast area with good water sources to live in, which means that tiger conservation programmes help in the survival of other aquatic and avian species in the area," says Mahendra Shrestha, programme director at Save The Tiger Fund, a non-governmental organisation based in the U.S. Yonzon supports Shrestha's statement. "Protecting a tiger doesn't only mean protecting its population, but also others that are prey species for this top predator."
Baral questions this idea, and quotes the example of the Gharial, one of the nine critically endangered species in Nepal. "Despite it being a top predator in the river ecosystem, why aren't conservation efforts for the Gharial being reviewed?" According to him, there are species whose requirements are specific and cannot be covered by a blanket tiger conservation programme. But again, "no other species brings in as much money."
It is not that Baral and other conservationists are not arguing for the survival of the tiger. "The tiger must be protected," he says, but all he is asking for is that other equally-threatened species also be paid equal, if not more, attention.
The example of the Baiji, or the Chinese river dolphin, could prove a point. A species categorised as critically endangered by the IUCN in 1996 , disappeared from the Yangtze River system in 2006, and finally declared extinct in 2007. This was an animal whose population in 1986 was estimated to be just 300.The example of the Baiji may not seem very relevant to Nepal, a country with few endemic species, but it does show that it doesn't take much for a species to go extinct despite the best conservation efforts.
What is needed is a concerted attempt by Nepal to identify its conservation needs, and work towards them accordingly. True, as Shrestha says, "it is easier to raise funds for tiger conservation programmes than other wildlife", but if our conservation programme intends to preserve Nepal's wildlife, it needs to present a clearer agenda than at the moment. Also, perhaps some sensitive donors who are willing to listen to that.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
October 30, 2009
Illegal wildlife trade hub
“The poachers had cut the horn without killing the rhino and it seemed to be in great pain," said the chief warden of the Chitwan National Park in southwest Nepal. Pradhan was informed by the tour guides of Nepal about the injured rhino. For him, it was the most touching incident in his wildlife career of more than 20 years. "We tried our best to save him and even removed the bullet from his head. But unfortunately, the rhino died within two weeks," a saddened Pradhan said.
Forest warden Narendra Man Babu Pradhan got the shock of his life when he saw an injured rhino with a missing horn that was attacked by poachers earlier this year. Says he, “We found a male rhino with bullet pierced on his head just outside a lake inside the park. It was a horrific sight.”
This "gruesome incident" inspired Pradhan to develop a strategy to take action against poaching and wildlife trade that is rife in the Himalayan nation. Today, Pradhan along with park officials and security guards conducts random patrols on foot, boats, jeep and on elephant back everyday scouring inside the dense jungle but the result has not been promising."Three carcasses of rhinos without horns were found on the edge of the forest while patrolling last month," the 46-year-old said, adding his team was able to nab 12 poachers with guns, knives and nets after the incident. "We are struggling to control poaching."
In recent months, authorities in Nepal have witnessed sharp rise in poaching inside wildlife sanctuaries and at the same time confiscated tiger bones and skins across the country. The string of deaths has sparked fear among conservationists that Nepal is fast becoming a transit hub for endangered species, with rhino horns and tiger skins from India being smuggled through the country into the neighbouring China.A rhino census carried out in March 2008 showed that there were 408 rhinos in Chitwan National Park, which is also home to the Royal Bengal tigers and is listed on the UNESCO´s world heritage site. The park has lost 24 rhinos -- 17 of them killed by poachers -- in the past one-and-a half years.
The figures of Asian big cats are not encouraging either. A new tiger census carried out earlier this year showed that there were 121 adult tigers in various parks of Nepal.But the numbers have gone down by 60 percent -- from 65 to 26 -- in two wildlife parks in southwestern Nepal.Officials have also seized over 145 kilograms of tiger bones, and hundreds of tiger and leopard skins from poachers and traders in the last five years. "The disappearance of tigers and seizures of skins, bones and rhino horns indicate poaching and trafficking is growing" Shiva Raj Bhatta, spokesman at the department of national parks and wildlife conservation informed.
"Our wildlife is in critical stage. We believe Nepal is fast developing as an international hub for wildlife trade and turning into a poacher´s paradise." Bhatta said Nepal´s territory is being used to smuggle wildlife contraband to Tibet. "The smugglers are always switching their routes inside Nepal making it difficult for us to track them. Their network is a big problem for us," he said.Besides tiger and leopard parts and rhino horns, Nepal in recent years has also been operating as an underground trade centre for otter skins, bear biles, red panda skins, musk pods, live birds and turtles, officials said.
Nepal shares porous border with both India and China and the lack of policies and cross-border coordination between the three nations means heyday on the rise for wildlife traders. "The poachers and traders are one step ahead of us. They are clever, well-organised and well-equipped," said Bhatta.Devesh Mani Tripathi is the planning officer at the department of forest and president of Nepal Foresters´ Association. He thinks controlling the illegal trade and poaching is a huge challenge because of the lack of resources and expertise to tackle the issue.
"Combatting poachers and wildlife traders need proper intelligence and skills both off-field and on-field but we don´t have such mechanisms. Our system has failed and we need to revamp our strategy to tackle the problems of poaching and wildlife trade," said Tripathi.Despite the fact that the wildlife parks are guarded by Nepali army who patrol around the jungles, poaching of rare wildlife species continues. "The Nepali Army is not exposed to wildlife conservation and they don´t have knowledge about how to deal with the issue," said Tripathi. "They are carrying out duties like they normally do while staying in barracks so it has not been effective."
Another worry for conservationists is the infiltration of Indian poachers inside Nepal´s territory. Indian poachers carrying guns were photographed in camera traps set up for capturing tiger images at Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in 2008 and 2009. Samir Sinha, head of TRAFFIC India, the wildlife trade monitoring network said the wildlife trade has grown into a multi-billion dollar business."All the signals are there to suggest that wildlife trafficking is fast emerging as transnational crime and is growing alarmingly," Sinha said. "It will be difficult to win the battle against traffickers unless countries collaborate with each other and share information and intelligence regularly."
Diwakar Chapagain, wildlife trade manager at the WWF-Nepal, said that the thriving illicit trade is alarming for wildlife conservation. "There is no denying to the fact that Nepal has emerged as the poaching and trade hotspot. The traders are using trans-Himalayan trails to transport wildlife parts in Tibet without being noticed," said Chapagain, adding that Indian poachers are a big threat."They (Indian poachers) can sulk into Nepal and kill wild animals in our national parks anytime," he said. “The rising demand of the tiger parts and rhino horns and rapid increase in their prices continue to be an irresistible incentive to poachers.”
"Even after the peace process, wildlife issues are not in the priority list of the government. The issue has been overshadowed by political issues. The magnitude of seizures across the country indicates that poaching and trading is remarkably high in Nepal.""In this covert business Nepal is receiving a double blow -- by being both the transit point and a source where traders and poachers operate," said Chapagain of WWF. “If we fail to act urgently, it won´t be a surprise if all tigers and rhinos disappear from the parks in the next couple of years.” A single tiger skin fetches a maximum of around Rs.80,000 (US $1081) in the local market. But in the international black market it is traded for a minimum of Rs.800,000 (US $10,666).
Experts say that tiger and leopard parts are in great demand in China and other Asian countries. They are wanted for their skins, which are used for decorations and making traditional costumes, as well as for their bones and body parts which are used as ingriedients for medicines. Rhino horns are highly valued as an aphrodisiac in China, and are used to make dagger handles in Arab countries. A single horn can fetch as much as US$14,000 in the international black market. "Tiger skins have become a symbol of social status and prosperity in Tibet and this has led to a growing demand in other parts of China as well," said Chapagain, adding that the booming Chinese economy has aggravated the situation.
Prasanna Yonzon of Wildlife Conservation Nepal, a local group monitoring the illegal trade, said Nepal has "ideal conditions" for wildlife trafficking as the land routes bordering India and China are porous and lack proper security. "Nepal is not the market for consumption and we don´t have control over the market," said Yonzon, whose group has helped authorities nab over 100 poachers and traders through undercover operations in the last four years. "The main market is China and other Asian countries. We are just being used as a conduit route to smuggle wildlife parts to the end users in those countries."
Source: Republica
October 28, 2009
Tigers face survival threats: PM Nepal
Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop 2009 kicks off
More than 200 representatives including conservationists, scientists and policy-makers from 14 TRCs and other donor organisations attended the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop 2009 that kicked off today in the capital. A four-day global meet to formulate strategic action plan to stop the alarmingly downward trend of tiger population in 14 Tiger Range Countries (TRCs) of the world kicked off in Kathmandu on Tuesday.
Speaking at the inaugural, PM Nepal said tigers still face threats of survival despite measures taken to conserve them and the primary threat in conservation is poaching and habitat loss. “It was appalling that an iconic animal of great significance both culturally and religiously across Asia is in such a precarious situation,” said Nepal.He said declining tiger population and increasing rate of depletion of its habitat range and surrounding landscape deserves immediate strategic and bold actions.PM Nepal drew the attention towards the looming threat of adverse consequences of global impact of climate change on our fragile environment.
“Despite our solemn pledge and unanimous commitment to take up further measures towards conservation of this precious animal, we have to acknowledge the stark reality of various threats that have seriously confronted the tiger population,” said the Prime Minister. While stating that the viability of conservation will primarily depend on collective action, the Prime Minister said there was no better alternative to initiate joint efforts to ensure the recovery of endangered species like tigers and a healthy ecosystem for the welfare of human society.
“Global and regional solidarity and collective strategies armed with concrete actions are more necessary now than ever before to address these daunting challenges,” said PM Nepal.The Prime Minister said the government is now in the process of having high level mechanisms in a bid to prevent the trafficking of wild animals and their body parts.“We need international support, your expert advice and good wishes to make our efforts more fruitful,” said the Prime Minister.
He reiterated that the government is determined to further accelerate the efforts and initiatives at central, regional and field levels to conserve our rare and endangered species of flora and fauna.The Prime Minister also said the government is seriously engaged in taking the ongoing peace process to a positive and meaningful conclusion, writing a new democratic constitution within the stipulated time-frame, and meeting the rising aspirations of the Nepali people for rapid social and economic transformation.
Minister of Forests and Soil Conservation Deepak Bohara, CA Chairman Subash Nemwang, Head of Federal Service for Natural Resources Management Oversight of Russia Mr Valdimir Kirilov ,Vice-Minister Pimuk Simaroj of Thailand and Country delegates representing the global tiger range, among others, were present at the conference.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
October 26, 2009
Tiger poaching promises profit galore
The thriving demand for tiger parts and other organs for use in traditional Chinese medicine has threatened the existence of the Asiatic big cat throughout the world. Experts say, there is slim chance for the tiger population if the concerned nations cannot strengthen their law enforcement mechanisms and the present rate of illegal trade continues unabated.Poaching a tiger could fetch thousands of dollars in the international market while it costs only for few hundred dollars for a smuggler to lure a villager into killing the beast.
"It costs merely Rs. 2,000 to kill a wild tiger. However, a single tiger fetches around 1.4 million rupees in the black market," said Mahendra Shrestha, programme director of the Washington, U.S. based Save the Tiger Fund on Monday.It only needs some bullets which cost around Rs. 1,000 and some people to kill a wild cat, however, a single pelt of the tiger costs Rs. 390,000 approximately in the market.
It is believed that an adult tiger leaves behind about 12 to 15 kilograms of dry bones and each kilogram of dry bones costs more than Rs 100,000 in the Chinese market. To meet the insatiable demand for tiger parts including skin, bones, claws and other organs, poachers have already killed thousands of these endangered species in different parts of the world in the last few decades.
From an estimated of 140,000 wild tigers in 14 tiger range countries a century ago, the number has now dwindled to around 3,500 or even less.Interestingly, unlike the rhino which is targeted by poachers for its precious horn, all parts of the tiger are used for trade in the market."Not a single remains of the tiger is found at the site where it is poached as the poachers take away the entire body with them," says Prasanna Yonzon, wildlife expert at Wildlife Conservation Nepal.
Meanwhile, at a time when some conservationists are debating whether to promote captive breeding of tigers, Shrestha said, "Raising a farmed tiger to maturity is far more expensive than poaching a wild tiger. Therefore, wild tigers will always be a cheaper alternative compared to farmed tigers,".Though it is stated that tiger parts are used for medicinal purposes in the Chinese market, this view has not been validated by a body of scientific evidence to prove that tiger parts do indeed have medicinal value, he said.According to Shrestha, a recent meeting held between conservationists and officials of World Federation of Chinese Medicine Society agreed that there was no need to use endangered animal parts to make traditional medicine. "There is urgent need of regional cooperation among nations to curb the illegal poaching of tigers," he said.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
October 26, 2009
Nepal, China to sign agreement to control illegal trade on wildlife
• Nepal has been hub for illegal trade to China, India
The government is all set to sign a trans-boundary agreement with China next month to control illegal wildlife trade. This effort attempts to curb increasing cross-border trade in endangered species including tigers and rhinos. The government has forwarded a draft of the Memorandum of Understanding to the Chinese government, said Deepak Bohara, Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation, on Sunday.
Bohara said there is an urgent need that the two governments invest in more effective enforcement and monitoring to control the trafficking of endangered species inside and outside the country.“Nepal is acting as an important hub for illegal trade to China and India,” he said.The smuggling network extends from India to China with Darchula in the Far-West increasingly becoming the border point used by poachers.The bilateral agreement between the governments will help strengthen formal dialogues between the concerned authorities and also towards stronger law enforcements on both sides.
"The countries will work together to formulate and endorse required policies and actions required to control the illegal trade through high level regional cooperation,” said Diwakar Chapagain, wildlife trade manager at World Wildlife fund.Likewise, the mechanism will also help authorities from both sides to regularly monitor and share information and seek cooperation which was lacking before, he said.According to Chapagain, the illicit trade in body parts of Asian big cats and rhinos remains unchecked due to lack of government-level commitment.India and Nepal, since 1997, have informally held bilateral dialogues and meetings to deal with cross-border trade and control mechanisms.However, due to lack of high-level cooperation, the meetings, which were to be held every two years, did not happen after three consecutive meetings, officials said.
Mahendra Shrestha, programme director of the Washington, U.S.,-based Save the Tiger Fund said there is a need to introduce bilateral and multilateral mechanisms to deal with illicit wildlife trade. “Wildlife trade is an inter-country issue and can be solved only through regional cooperation.” At the same time, experts representing 14 different tiger-range countries and other international funding organisations are jointly working to endorse a regional-level mechanism to deal with tiger-poaching and the increasing trade in tiger parts.“We are likely to endorse the establishment of South Asian Wildlife Enforcement Network during the Kathmandu Global Tiger Workshop (which will be held from Oct. 27 to 30),” said one of the participants, who refused to be identified.The Nepal government, in support with the World Bank, is hosting the global tiger workshop.“The major aim of the workshop will be to come up with urgent actions needed to recover wild tiger populations,” said Shrestha.
Source: The Kathmandu Post
