Nepal's Wildlife Conservation Successes

WILDLIFE CONSERVATION

NEPAL’S WILDLIFE CONSERVATION SUCCESSES RHINO POPULATION INCREASE AND YET ANOTHER 365 DAYS OF ZERO POACHING

ecently, Nepal announced some leads to wildlife leaving their protected positive news from the recent rhino areas – can undermine conservation R census: a 21percent increase in efforts because it leads to discontent the population, and zero poaching in local communities over the presence instances between May 4, 2014 and of a protected area. Community May 3, 2015. discontent can even lead to retaliatory killing or aiding and abetting of RHINO POPULATION UP, poachers. Building community pride in the resource can help lessen the RHINO POACHING DOWN discontent. According to a press release Nepal’s success in countering from Nepal’s Department of National poaching and protecting its parks is Parks and Wildlife Conservation evident in the increase in wild rhino (DNPWC), in the last four years, the populations. In January 2015, Nepal population of greater one-horned marked another success against rhinos has increased by 21 percent, wildlife crime when the notorious from 534 to 645 rhinos, and poaching rhino poacher Raj Kumar Praja was has dropped even more significantly, arrested in Malaysia and deported with only one rhino killed in 2012 and to Nepal. This is also a remarkable one in early 2014. These numbers success for coordinated efforts by were verified during a recent official INTERPOL, the South Asian Wildlife census performed by the Government Enforcement Network, and Nepali of Nepal, with financial support from authorities. With such success comes USAID through the Hariyo Ban the risk of increased human-wildlife (Green Forest) program. conflict. For example, earlier this year, Counting the number of rhinos on March 30, a rogue rhino made its in Nepal is a difficult task. According way into the large town of Hetauda, to Dr. Maheshwar Dhakal, Under north of Chitwan National Park. Secretary of the DNPWC, “Thirty- The rhino killed one person before four elephants and 134 staff were being chased away by DNPWC staff deployed for nearly a month-long on elephants. However, Nepal, with census starting from April 7, 2015 USAID support, will continue to to May 2, 2015. Altogether, 1,024 maintain the teamwork necessary to elephant-days and 5,099 man-days mitigate that conflict and protect the were expended to carry out the wildlife. USAID is continuing count.” The count continued despite to support these priorities, especially the April 25 earthquake. Elephants are in the wake of Nepal’s recent critical for accessing the core of the earthquake. national parks, which is too difficult and too dangerous to visit on foot BUILDING NEPAL BACK due to the large tiger population. Chitwan National Park alone is home GREENER to 160 Royal Bengal Tigers, with a total The USAID-funded Hariyo Ban national population of 198 as per the program, upon the request of the 2013 census. Still, according to Judy Ministry of Science, Technology Oglethorpe, Chief of Party of and Environment, and with active USAID’s Hariyo Ban participation of other sectoral program, counting ministries, was actively involved

has become Photos: Kashish Das Shrestha - USAID in the Post-Disaster Needs In the last four easier in recent Assessment (PDNA) process and years due to due to the high level of coordination USAID, located outside of Annapurna provided technical assistance for years, the population the addition between the Nepal Army, National Conservation Area, the USAID a Rapid Environment Assessment. of greater one- of “ID-based Park staff, the Nepal Trust for Nature Environment Team Leader learned of The assessment team, headed by horned rhinos has monitoring”. Conservation (a quasi-governmental the group’s success and pride in their Dr. Shanker Sharma, former Vice- In ID-based organization), NGOs like World work. “We coordinate our patrols with Chairperson of the National Planning increased by 21 monitoring, Wildlife Fund, law enforcement the village on the far side of the valley Commission and former Ambassador percent. rangers agencies, and local communities. The so we can cover all the forests,” Mr. of Nepal to the U.S., drafted 10 are trained last piece – gaining the trust and Durga Prasad Poudel, the chairperson principles of Green, Resilient, to identify support of communities – is critically of the community forest told visitors. Recovery and Reconstruction to individual rhinos, important, as community buy-in and “Since we’ve been patrolling we no include in the PDNA process, aiming and track them pride in their wildlife heritage are longer see lights [of poachers] in the to ensure that reconstruction and regularly. This form of necessary to reduce outside threats. forest at night, and we’ve noticed a lot recovery activities help Nepal build monitoring was introduced in Chitwan Community-Based Anti-Poaching more barking deer.” back greener. National Park two years ago, with Units are a relatively new effort in The pride in Mr. Poudel’s voice The Hariyo Ban program was also support and training by Hariyo Ban Nepal to engage communities in the when describing the Community- heavily involved in relief and early staff. management and protection of wildlife Based Anti-Poaching Unit’s success recovery activities and reached about in the buffer zones around the parks. and the value he places in having 5,000 people (49 percent women) in SAVING WILDLIFE Protecting the buffer zone makes wildlife in his forest is another piece earthquake-affected communities with protecting the core conservation area of conservation efforts. He feels the relief and temporary recovery items in REQUIRES TEAMWORK much easier for park staff. USAID has loss of a few crops is a small price to Lamjung, Gorkha, Rasuwa, Mr. Tika Ram Adhikari, Director been a major supporter in the creation pay for the value of having a healthy Dhading, and Nuwakot districts. General of DNPWC, said “Increasing of these units, which rapidly grew from population of barking deer in his USAID’s Hariyo Ban program, while the rhino population is a result of a few dozen to more than a thousand forest. Human-wildlife conflict– which essential to protect wildlife and team work.” Saving a species requires over the past few years. During a can happen when people encroach biodiversity, is also committed participation from many different recent interaction with a Community- on wildlife habitats, or in the case of to Nepal’s earthquake relief and actors, and the success in Nepal is Based Anti-Poaching Unit supported by Nepal, where conservation success recovery.