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Snow leopard in Mt. Everest 2005, Photo by: Joel Brown Contents Editorial 2 Journey from Mustang to Chitwan 3 Non-committal Government on Assam Wildlife Investigations 9 Letter to the Editor 11 Wikileaks expose on climate summit sabotage 12
Year 5 No. 29, January 2011 Year www.citesnepal.org Nepal Environmental Early Recovery Program 15 Wildlife News 16 Combat vigorously illegal trade of tiger products 20 Price: Rs 20/- Editorial
he Tiger Range Countries now have a huge responsibility of not only saving the tigers but also Tdoubling them by year 2022. The year of the Tiger 2010 ended with promises and hopes to double the number in the Tiger Summit held in St. Petersberg in November 2010. Soon after that, Nepal government, who has been actively involved and participating in tiger conservation, set aside 10 million rupees every month for tiger. This huge sum of money has been allocated for the tiger conservation activities. The effort shown is appreciable. But evaluating the present scenario, has this amount been aptly used for conservation? This year tiger count started only in Chure region (Terai) of Nepal due to lack of fund. This census was also only possible due to the funding from the students. This contradicting action on part of the government official shows the carelessness and mismanagement of the budget. The big question here is why the money was not used for tiger count which is a vital element for tiger conservation? Where is the cash that should have been used? Why is the government only big talk, but no action? These questions need to be answered soon so that the conservation of tiger remains a priority and Nepal can live upto its commitment to save the tigers. • Recently some senior and field staffs resigned from Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) having long and impressive experience on park management particularly on tiger conservation. It is learnt that they left due to frustration and joined non-governmental organizations. This is unfortunate for department that the capable officers are leaving at a time when the government and international organizations are increasing budgets for conservation activities. It is not enough to allocate the resources only, if the competent people are not available. If there are no capable and experienced people left in DNPWC for park management, only the resources and external supports would not be sufficient. Managers and conservationists are required for systematic management and preservation. Without skilled people, the budget itself cannot accommodate. It is necessary for government to create suitable environment where the people can continue their work and are motivated for their endeavors.
2 The Serpent King
How a notorious Malaysian wildlife smuggler was brought to justice -- and what it tells us about stopping the world's most profitable black market.
By Bryan Christy
t began almost innocently. IA broken lock on a suitcase moving through Kuala Lumpur International Airport this summer led to an odd discovery: nearly 100 baby boa constrictors, two vipers, and a South American turtle, all hidden inside. It was a fairly modest catch for a wildlife smuggler, but the man who claimed the suitcase was no ordinary criminal. He was Anson Wong Keng Liang, the world's most notorious wildlife trafficker. And instead of a slap on the wrist, which he might astounding array of contraband, reasonably have expected, including snow leopard pelts, Wong was about to receive a panda bear skins, rhino horns, surprising punishment. rare birds, and Komodo dragons. He moved everything From the tiny Malaysian island from chinchillas to elephants, of Penang, in a storefront no smuggling critically endangered larger than your average nail wildlife from Australia, China, salon, Wong commanded one Madagascar, New Zealand, of the world's largest wildlife South America, and elsewhere trafficking syndicates. Much to markets largely in Europe, of the work Wong's company, Japan, and the United States. Sungai Rusa Wildlife, had done since he got into the business Wong got into the business in three decades ago was above- the early 1980s, selling exotic board: He legally wholesaled animals to zoos and dealers tens of thousands of wild around the world. In the reptiles annually, making him beginning, he told me when I the likely source for many of met him at his office on Penang the snakes, lizards, turtles, and in March 2007, he dealt openly frogs on sale in American pet in the unavailable: gorillas, stores. But using a private zoo tigers -- "anything," he said, as a cover, he also offered an by which he meant "anything
3 rare." (Changes in international officials in the customs on September 18, 1998, he was and Malaysian law eventually bureau and, importantly, in met by Morrison, along with led him to focus on reptiles, the wildlife department, the Special Assistant U.S. Attorney which he believed were not agency responsible for CITES Robert S. Anderson and a as protected as other species.) paperwork. team of Mexican federals, who Wong's techniques mirrored arrested him. Wong fought his those of narcotics and other Wong's activities finally extradition from Mexico to the traffickers. He paid mules landed him on the radar of United States for two years, but to carry Komodo dragons international law enforcement eventually he gave in. hidden inside suitcases, and hid agencies in the early 1990s, endangered Malagasy tortoises when Special Operations, the In June 2001, Wong was at the bottom of legal wildlife elite undercover unit of the sentenced in California to shipments. Purchasing vacation U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service 71 months in prison, fined packages as cover, he sent (USFWS), made him the target $60,000, and banned from men out to poach rare wildlife of an investigation called exporting to the United from breeding facilities in New Operation Chameleon. Agents States for three years after his Zealand. The most important set up a reptile importing release. But the sentence did technique Wong and other company outside of San not stop him. While he was in large-scale smugglers employ, Francisco and a retail operation prison his wife ran his wildlife however, is far less exotic than in Reno, Nevada, and began business, including sales to the all that. Instead, it has to do doing business with Wong. United States. When he got with paperwork. Before long, they discovered out in 2003, Wong returned to Wong not only smuggled rare Malaysia, grew a pony tail, and Smugglers like Wong scan and endangered reptiles, but went back to work. the globe for countries with also critically endangered birds weak laws or corrupt law and mammals. His reach was Things didn't begin to change enforcement officials tasked global. until January 2010, when with stamping their animals' National Geographic published documentation, paper that is as To arrest Wong, agents needed a profile I wrote of Wong, much in demand as the animals a ruse to lure him out of detailing his government themselves. Malaysia. There is a lucrative connection and his new plans international black market in to exploit tigers. The outcry by Few places launder as much bear bile, which is used as a cure- both the public and journalists illegal wildlife as Penang. The all in traditional Asian medicine. in the Malaysian press was island's location and favorable USFWS Special Agent George immediate. (Malaysian regulatory regime have made it Morrison, acting undercover, newspapers and television not just a global manufacturing offered Wong a piece of a bear- are state controlled, which hub for multinational companies bile smuggling operation he makes it difficult for journalists such as Dell and Intel, but also claimed to be running, on one to criticize the government a bathtub drain for the world's condition: The two men had to directly -- but they are free rare animals. This was largely meet in person. Wong agreed, to disclose foreign reporting the work of Wong: "I can get but because he was already about Malaysia, such as my anything here from anywhere," wanted in the United States on story.) In the course of the past he boasted to an American smuggling charges, he refused year, the Ministry of Natural undercover agent in March to meet there or in Canada. Resources and Environment 1997. "Nothing can be done to They agreed to go to Mexico announced a revamp of its me. I could sell a panda - and, instead. wildlife department, promising nothing. As long as I'm here, to rotate senior officers every I'm safe." The key, he explained, When Wong stepped off a Japan three years. It stripped the was paying off government Airlines flight in Mexico City department of key powers and
4 is in the process of transferring November, a judge sentenced 2009, over 18,000 live animals Misliah, who is now also him to five years in prison, and more than 267 tons of dead under investigation by the an unprecedented term for a animals and derivative products Malaysian Anti-Corruption wildlife trafficker in Malaysia, were seized in law enforcement Commission. As a result, and a stern sentence for animal actions in Southeast Asia alone -- when Wong was caught with smuggling compared to current and that appetite won't go away a suitcase of boa constrictors, standards anywhere else in the just because Wong temporarily he didn't get away with it. world. did. It's all but guaranteed that The Malaysian government somewhere in Malaysia or revoked his business licenses, The effort to catch Wong - another country willing to look shut down his zoo, and seized - all 17 years of it -- offers a the other way, there are aspiring his entire collection of animals, few important lessons on what kingpins working to take over including his Bengal tigers. In it takes to stop a kingpin. In his business.
Malaysia’s new wildlife law used to tackle cyber crime
The Selangor State Wildlife and National Parks Department (Perhilitan) raided the man’s home in Bukit Jelutong on 11 January Tuesday and found the ivory items, which he advertised in the classified ads of a well known local website.
He is expected to be charged under Section 68(b) of the Wildlife Conservation Act 2010 which came into force in December.
He faces up to MYR 100,000 (USD 32,500) in fines or up to three years in jail, or both, if found guilty.
Under the previous law the penalties would have been significantly lower: a fine of not exceeding MYR 3, 000 (USD975) or to a term of imprisonment not exceeding one year or to both.
While Malaysia does not possess the open ivory markets of other countries in the region, the country is becoming one of concern for its role in the global ivory trade. Malaysia was identified in the latest Elephant Trade Information System (ETIS) report as a country of concern because of its role as a significant transit point.
ETIS is the world’s largest database of elephant product seizure records, comprising more than 15,400 ivory seizure cases compiled over the last 21 years. The data shows a growing number of illegal ivory shipments passing through Malaysian ports.
In 2009, a large shipment of 5,647 kg of ivory was seized in Viet Nam, having passed through Pasir Gudang, Malaysia, while in 2010; 1,665 kg of ivory was seized in Hai Phong Port, Viet Nam, again having come via Malaysia.
In August last year, Wildlife officers seized two tonnes of elephant ivory and five rhino horns at Kenya’s international airport, which were to be illegally shipped to Malaysia.
5 Journey from Mustang to Chitwan By Jim Ottaway
This is the remaining half of the excerpt from his trek journal to Mustang and Chitwan in the month of September-October 2010.
Wednesday, Sept. 29
e rode Tibetan horses Wnorth of Lo-Monthang fortress to Choser in two hours past many green trees and fields of wheat and barley being harvested and threshed with sticks and winnowed by women throwing the wheat or barley up in the air to let strong afternoon winds blow the chaff away easily.
Suddenly Hemanta Mishra’s Tibetan horse put his front left hoof into a deep pool of muddy water, lost his balance and fell over, pitching Hemanta onto the ground, luckily not on the usual rocks, but smooth dry earth. So Hemanta’s fall scared us, but he was not hurt. It was the only accident we had with the sure- footed Tibetan horses during our trek in Upper Mustang, although they often scared me by insisting on walking right on the edge of our steep trails.
We rode our horses up hill and over dry limestone to the Cave of Jhong built about 1,000 years ago as a safe place from bandits and warlords.
Thursday, Sept. 30
Lo-Manthang Walled City of King of Mustang -- From left, Phurba Sherpa, widow Samzong village of 21 houses, of Mingma Sherpa; Jim Ottaway Jr., trek leader; Hemanta Mishra, former member secretary of King Mahendra Trust For Nature Conservation.
6 five already moved because each – limiting the number meters or 11,523 feet where water no longer comes to the of tourists to about 2,000 our best dinner yet is served – a village itself from glaciers along recently. bowl of noodles, edible meat the Tibetan border 15 miles chunks, carrots. We are all away. Now they have to haul Annual trade fairs at the high delighted! water up from the Sam Dzong pass of Kora-la on Tibet- Khola (river) far below, which Mustang border are growing in This day we trekked happily is losing its water flow. popularity, so more Tibetan and again, under another clear blue Chinese goods are expected in sky with some white clouds on Our 3 p.m. audience with the Mustang, on one of the most the mountain peaks East and King was a very special occasion, ancient trade routes between West of us, trekking south, back quite formal, with Tsewang China, Tibet, Nepal and India. toward Jomsom Airport. Bista acting as interpreter for us all. I was told to sit at his Friday, Oct. 1 We left Ghami at a leisurely left hand as oldest member pace on horseback at 9:15 of the trekking group. Arthur We start back down from Lo- a.m. and rode horses uphill, Anderson and Hemanta Mishra Manthang, going over our while hiking downhill on foot had met the King on earlier highest pass south along a more on steep grades of dry, dusty, visits to Mustang. Amanda said western trail at 4,090 meters or rocky surface trails, with some the most interesting thing of 13,497 feet – our highest point stretches on the main dirt road all when she said she was one of altitude at village of Pangga to Tibet. of most Nepalese who have or Samduling on our Mustang never visited Mustang – way map. Thank God we rode horses, up behind the Annapurna with very comfortable Tibetan Mountain Range, and as we From Lo-Gekar Gompa we rugs for saddles, going south were learning, hard to get to! went up and down steep over the same main dirt road That surprised me, but then I ravines and mountain sides that had been so completely thought I have never been to with dramatic landscape views scary driving north in a jeep- the Statue of Liberty, Niagara – unexpected beauty every day style Indian pick-up truck, with Falls or Grand Canyon in my at every turn. It was our best a young 16-year-old, risk-taking own country. mix of riding Tibetan horses driver described to comfort us uphill and walking downhill on as “the best available driver Annapurna Conservation steep trails with walking sticks. in Mustang.” That “comfort” Area Project (ACAP) offices in My knees hurt at times but got reminded me of a Sherpa joke Mustang are across from the me down to our evening dinner on my first Nepal trek in 1984 King’s Palace in the Fortress. and rest at Ghami at 4 p.m. Even to the Mt. Everest Base Camp. Chandra Gurung and Mingma with horses, this is a very tough When I showed fear of crossing Sherpa added Mustang in 1992 trek for me at my age, and hard an old rope suspension bridge to the original 1985 ACAP. Tasha work for everyone at times; not across a deep gorge, my Sherpa Bista gave us a presentation on for someone who is not fairly companions “comforted” me ACAP projects in the Mustang fit, with some endurance and by saying, “Don’t worry. We fix region: population 5,395 in strength. them when they break.” 1,171 households, 40% with electricity. Mustang emerged I love seeing dandelions and I took my first break from as a Kingdom in 1440 and blue asters (I see at home) at the group trek experience of became part of Nepal in 1789. 13,000 feet in Upper Mustang. togetherness at 2:30 p.m. as we First tourists in March, 1992, entered Syanboche at 12,600 and growing slowly because of Saturday, Oct. 2 feet, finding a comfortable rock a $50-a-day permit charge. We for my 30-year-old bottom- paid $500 for 10-day permit Overnight at Ghami at 3,510 patched Brooks Brothers
7 Harris tweed pants. I rested and Tsewang Bista, our trek leader, elephant grasses to water holes meditated, thinking of nothing got his Sherpas and Forrest where we were lucky to see for 45 minutes. Berkely to stand on the few 19 rhinos in muddy wallows good footing positions, and – an unusually high number to Sunday, Oct. 3 help the rest of us slowly find sight. We were told there are foot holds and hand holds. about 400 still alive in Nepal, We depart Shayanboche at 8 We all got across safely, but down from about 600 before a.m. and rest at Sayla Pass also the 1,000-foot drop below us widespread poaching during at 12,600 feet. A snow leopard was very scary! I did not look the Maoist uprising from 1996 had killed two horses recently down. to 2006. and we saw huge vultures circling round us a few feet Muktinath Temple – We take We also spotted deer, langur away, apparently feeding on the two jeeps uphill to the east to monkeys, jungle maina birds, horses far below. visit this unusual Hindu and and a flock of open-billed Buddhist pilgrimage shrine. It storks landing on treetops after As I hike down the very steep trail has a male Hindu priest and sunset for the night. Some birds from our lunch stop at Samar to a female Buddhist priestess in we saw were spotted dove, Chhusang for the night (where separate sacred spaces in the redheaded trogon, king fishers we slept our first night going same shrine area, visited by (white throated), lesser adjutant up), I passed numerous stone- thousands of Indian Hindu storks, two large peacocks high walled enclosures protecting pilgrims, who run fast under in a tree, jungle fowl. Arthur poplar tree forests planted its 108 very cold-water sacred Anderson and Amanda saw two with ACAP encouragement 15 spring spouts for purification. wild boars from their elephant to 20 years ago. Reforestation top chair. was one of the first priorities Tuesday, Oct. 5 of ACAP when it started up in Then tiger pug marks, front 1985. So I stop and feel sad for We fly from Jomsom back down and back female paw tracks. my dead friends Chandra and to Pokhara, again between the Mr. Dhan Bahadur Tamang Mingma, who started ACAP high peaks of Annapurna to the said they were footprints of a with Hemanta Mishra, and east and Dhaulagiri to the west. female tiger known as “Lucky.” suddenly there are tears in my Then by air-conditioned Toyota She was born in 1993 and has eyes and a wave of grief seizes Tree Tops van on a hot day to very distinctive paw tracks. Mr. me. the Chitwan National Park in Dhan is chief naturalist who the lowland Terai jungle. We joined Tiger Tops Oct. 1, 1969, Monday, Oct. 4 stop in Mugling for lunch where before the Chitwan National they have best light omelet and Forest was declared a protected Tsewang told us last night at fried potatoes in Nepal. area in 1973. First guests came dinner that the road building to Tiger Tops in 1965 – 45 from Chhusang to Kagbeni Tiger Tops Resort – An elephant years ago! His family is all the had pushed stones onto a very cries out at 3:50 p.m. to call animals in Chitwan! narrow part of our trail leading us to our first 4 p.m. elephant us out to the road at Tangbe ride in the jungle and along the Seven forms of travel in last 24 where two Indian jeeps will Narayani River. hours of this trek of amazing pick us up. It turned out to be variety – hiking from Chhusang; a very dangerous “cliff-hanger” We took a 2 ½-hour long walk rock climbing across 150 feet experience where about 150 on top of a female elephant of trail destroyed by road feet of the path we climbed up named Hira Kali, 30 years construction; jeep riding on a week before was destroyed old, always eating tall elephant narrow, winding, switchback by rocks falling from road grass. We went first through trails up to site of Muktinath construction above. the Saal forest and then into tall sacred to both Hindus and
8 Buddhists; horseback riding up tigers trying to mate with one My favorite grasses are sacrum steepest trails from Chhusang; female tiger, fighting for their spontaneum with long waving airplane flight of 20 minutes prize. white heads five feet to 20 feet from Jomsom in Lower high. Rhinos and elephants Mustang to Pokhara. Then boat Lunch at Tented Camp -- Four like its sweet taste! The other ride across the Reu River to rhinos sighted from viewing common sacrum tall grass is Tiger Tops; elephant back ride porch at lunch! Four more Bengalensis. But there are 50 for 2 ½ hours at sunset. during morning elephant ride. different varieties of sacrum tall Afternoon walk to a bird blind grass in the Chitwan grassland. Wednesday, Oct. 6 with Dhan, the oldest guide, Looking north from our quiet who helped Hemanta Mishra bird blind, I see large grassland Up at 5:30 a.m. again, not for to trap and tranquilize tigers in with occasional kapok or silk an early plane flight, but for Chitwan Park from 1978. Dhan cotton (simal) trees; and in early morning 6 a.m. elephant once waited three days and the distance a huge riverine ride with our group to listen to nights to dart and tranquilize forest with kapok, acacia, and and see birds and look for tigers a tiger they trapped in a ravine rosewood in sandy old riverbed. and rhinos again – we saw no where he had to come out some Looking south behind us I see tigers at Tiger Tops during this day. They shot him at about 8 thick saal tree forest on higher, first trip to Chitwan. Tiger Tops p.m. on the third day when he drier ground toward the Indian has stopped its old cruelty to had to come out for food and border. animals' practice of staking live water! deer or buffalo in the jungle to A tiger moth and a tiger butterfly attract tigers for tourists. We walk east from Tiger Tops pass by, both with tiger orange Tented Camp, seeing front color. However, no wild tigers Birds of the Morning – Emerald and rear male tiger paw tracks sighted in the grassland. parakeets and spotted doves (pugmarks) Dhan recognized as call out in the morning forest a killer of small rhinos. Dhan Dhan showed me ten minutes as we set off on three elephant said the tiger tracks came from of his own video of the large backs again – two or three of last night! That gives me pause. male tiger whose paw marks us seated on a square green- Do tigers hunt only at night? We (pugmarks) we just saw in the padded platform with a handrail climb a 30-foot high wooden sandy trail coming to the blind! around it to hold on to. More blind and sit under a thatched He caught this male tiger on birds from elephant back with roof of grasses with binoculars, video from elephant back last Dhan: Collared falconet, looking for birds, rhinos, maybe March 2010. blacked-headed oriole, grey- a tiger later on at sunset. Dhan headed lapwing, river lapwing, talks to two langur monkeys, Dhan also showed me a red-wattled lapwing, scarlet with a guttural grunt, and they fascinating hand-held video he minuet, white-throated fantail, answer from high up in tree made in March of a python parter (anhinga), redheaded branches. killing a hog deer by squeezing trogan. it to death around its whole More bird sightings or songs body and neck. Also an April Tigers are pregnant for only identified: oriental pied video of the same male tiger 15 to 16 weeks before they hornbill, black hooded oriole – called “Rhino-Eater” eating a give birth; elephants for 24 I saw his yellow chest in flight; gaur (Indian bison) it had killed months! Tigers are hard to see spotted dove – off to our right between the Tented Camp and in this Chitwan Park, but our cooing like any Central Park Tiger Tops Jungle Hotel, and lead naturalist Dhan Bahadur dove; yellow-breasted babbler was slowly returning to eat Tamang who has been at Tiger – song only; and a chestnut- it for a week, coming every Tops for 42 years has seen them capped babbler. evening for his dinner, eating many times – once two male all night long and leaving in the
9 Dang, Palpa, and Kailali – all run by local community forest management committees along the southern border of Nepal.
Maoist uprising from 1996 to 2006 led to more poaching of rhinos and tigers in Chitwan National Park as military guards around Chitwan were reassigned to fight the Maoists. The current military commander of 1,000 soldiers at 34 poacher lookout posts in Chitwan told me what he needs most is a small two-man helicopter to spot poachers at work. Narendra Man Babu Pradhan, chief warden of Chitwan National Park in Nepal in Nepal, dedicating new breeding pool for endangered gharial (crockodiles) at Wild tusker elephants raid the Kasara, headquarters of Chitwan National Park in southern Nepal. farmers’ crops and go after female elephants in government camps and private resort early morning. (His black ears Nepal, and me – in a dirt pit elephant camps full of females have little white spots at the with an Indian priest chanting that are more docile. We were back). prayers, sprinkling holy water told 25 wild elephants roam and red hibiscus flowers – an the Chitwan National Park, and Sloth Bear – There are sloth exotic scene! some recently entered a village bear droppings on the floor and destroyed a house! of our “blind” or “hide” right Vulture Conservation Breeding behind my seat! This large Center at Kasara headquarters Chital Alarm Call in riverine black bear is about six feet tall of Chitwan National Park. Sick forest as we rode elephants standing up with white mouth holy cows with dychlophene Thursday afternoon – exhausted and white V-shape markings on painkillers were poisoning after two ceremonies at his chest. He climbs trees and vultures and killing them off Kasara and Sauraha. Hemanta all the steps to our blind. in Nepal. WWF started this explained that call of a spotted vulture-breeding center in deer or chital means they sense Thursday, Oct. 7 2008; now 43 vultures are there is predators like leopard living there. It takes six years or tiger, nearby. Both animals We leave the magical Tented to produce a vulture egg. There exist in Chitwan National Park Camp at Tiger Tops for a stop are two holding aviary and because the jungle and riverine at Kasara to dedicate a gharial one breeding aviary buildings. forest has been restored, (crocodile) breeding pool at Vultures are scavengers eating attracting deer and other prey the headquarters of Chitwan mostly dead animals in the for leopards and tigers. National Park, then further wild. east to Sauraha for the gharial We also saw a larger male (crocodile species) breeding There are five “vulture sambar – a large deer – standing pool dedication with first bricks restaurants” near “holy cow quite still in riverine forest as laid into wet cement by Anil hospices” in five districts we passed on our elephant. Manandhar, director of WWF/ – Nawalparasi, Kapilbastu, Hemanta said he is one of the
10 dumbest deer and easiest for National Park is an invasive program for forestry and tigers to hunt. vine species called “Mikania community development micrantha.” It is fast killing careers. I am a member of her Shanta Raj was the main healthy open grassland and board of directors, along with speaker at welcome home some whole trees across the Kathryn Fuller, chairman of the dinner and dancing party Terai, moving east to west Ford Foundation after being Thursday night for Hemanta toward Bardia National Park president of the World Wildlife and Sushma Mishra, who were 200 kilometers west! It kills off Fund, and Bruce Bunting, very happy back in their home rhino and tiger food grazing president of the Bhutan jungle natural habitat. He is grasses. Foundation, after being vice chief scientist at Chitwan who president for Asia at WWF. wrote his PhD thesis on rhinos. Mikania was brought to India by the British from South and Sumitra Gurung, wife of late Friday, Oct. 8 Central America to be used Chandra Gurung of WWF as camouflage cover (so the Nepal, came to the dinner party First day of Dashain Festival, Nepalese say). It's only known in her elegant Nepali dress. we saw sacrifice of a black safe biological destroyer is a Her daughter, Amanda, who goat to the Goddess of the rust fungus called “puccina came on our Mustang trek and Jungle, Ban-Devi, along with a spegazzino” which will be tried Chitwan forest camping trip, pigeon and a chicken with their on it after a full impact study. is currently preparing a new throats cut. Arthur Anderson Nepal reforestation proposal. and I were invited to pray on Later I played a small horizontal our knees to “the goddess who Nepali drum, with high and Saturday, Oct. 9 is everywhere and nowhere in low sounds on its two opposite the forest.” About 20 men were drumheads, while the Nepali I depart Annapurna Hotel at 7 present; Sushma Mishra joined Tiger Camp workers at Sauraha a.m. after farewell hugs with us after the killing, as the only danced with some of our Phurba Sherpa and Arthur woman there. trekking group. Anderson. Phurba brought me a Nepali/Tibetan drum as a Friday morning about 9:15 to Friday Night Dinner – Our farewell present – like the drum, 9:45, we floated quietly down last memorable meal together I played for the dancers at the the Budhi Rapti River (old was at the elegant home in the Sauraha Tiger Camp during the river course) seeing one large, mountains north of Kathmandu festivities. It barely fits into my old crocodile and one smaller of Tenzing and Lisa Choegyal. large trek bag! one sunning themselves on the He is a successful Tibetan rug After this three-week trek riverbank after the monsoon maker who sells some of them with Hemanta Mishra, I now period of heavy rains. We in North America. know much more about his also saw more colorful birds many adventures with kings, including wooly-necked stork, Lisa is a tall, energetic, cheerful politicians, elephant and black bittern, white-throated hostess who seems to know tiger hunters and protectors, kingfisher, stork-billed everyone in Kathmandu after poachers and wardens. He was kingfisher, open-billed stork, living with her Nepali husband endlessly amusing to all of us river lapwing, sand martin. for over 20 years. Lisa is very on this trek with his non-stop helpful to Phurba Sherpa in amazing adventures and story A present danger to forest selecting the best students for telling. and wild animals in Chitwan the Mingma Sherpa Foundation
11 Cameras for tiger study rifles. Camera trapping is being “The forest department has capture poachers at done by Aaranyak, wildlife announced a reward of Rs Orang NGO, at Orang National Park 25,000 for identifying the for tiger estimation. Around 70 poachers,” he said. Chand said cameras have been put up at the killing of a rhino in Orang strategic locations in the park. took place after a year.
Chand said the poachers, who In the entire state in 2010, are believed to be the same, there were seven instances of came on January 5. They, rhino poaching while in 2009 however, succeeded in killing a there were 14 cases. In 2009, rhino on January 9. the number of rhinos in Orang was 64 rhinos while in 2006, Chand said on January 9, the 68 rhinos were recorded. poachers had changed their route Guwahati, 13 January: Camera and were successful in killing the In the 2009 tiger camera traps, which up to now have rhino. trapping report of Aaranyak clicked pictures of wildlife in in collaboration with forest Assam, have now for the first Divisional forest offi cer of Orang department, seven tigers, time taken pictures showing National Park S.K. Daila said including two males and five poachers at Orang National the poachers had adopted a new females,were recorded in Orang Park. strategy of shooting the rhino at National Park. night. “We have seen poachers Revealing this at a news striking at dusk or in the wee Two poachers were killed in an conference, Assam principal hours. However, these poachers encounter with forest guards chief conservator of forests shot the rhino around 1.30am. in July last year and several (wildlife), Suresh Chand, said They fi red from very close range,” arms and ammunition were pictures taken by camera traps he said. recovered from them. Another hung on trees have been able poacher was killed in March to take pictures of a group of The staff on duty on January last year. poachers who had killed a rhino 9, N. Chamua, will be put on January 9. “Cameras which under suspension. “We suspect Tiger poisoned to death in were placed in the trees got that he was conniving with Kaziranga the pictures of poachers who the poachers,” Chand said. were moving in the area. The The official said the poachers Guwahati, 14 January: Barely poachers had come with intent were from outside the area and a fortnight after a tiger was to kill a rhino,” Chand said. the pictures have been sent to poisoned to death in Assam's nearby police stations. Orang National Park; a full- The poachers were carrying.303 grown tigress was killed
12 allegedly in a similar fashion Gogoi, however, ruled out However the agency said anti- at Kaziranga National Park on the possibility of poaching poaching programmes were 13 January Thursday. Forest in case of the tiger death and yielding results. Five suspected guards found the carcass of said, "From the circumstantial poachers were shot dead at the the adult tigress floating on the evidence, we can say it was world-famous Kruger National Brahmaputra near Hoflot forest not an incident relating to Park in the last four days. camp of the park. poaching." Kaziranga witnessed five tiger deaths last year. Of "Since the beginning of this year "We got information about the five tiger deaths in 2010, one a total of five more poachers tigress floating on the river. was killed in an attack by wild have died when rangers acted It was a tigress, aged about buffalos, while three died in in self-defense after poachers seven," Kaziranga National Park territorial fights. One died due opened fire on them," said parks director Surajit Dutta said. Park to old age ailments. agency chief executive Dr David authorities have conducted a Mabunda in a statement. postmortem of the tigress and On December 27, a five-year- sent some samples to the state old tigress was poisoned to Kruger suffered the worst losses forensic laboratory and wildlife death at the Rajiv Gandhi Orang in 2010, with 146 rhinos killed institute to discern the actual National Park by villagers from there. "It is more worrying that cause of its death. the Panchnoi area of the forest. rangers are often greeted by the poachers' firepower without "Our doctors have done the Price of Rhino horn more warning," Mabunda said. postmortem of the tigress and expensive than gold in SA sent samples for confirmation Police have arrested 162 of the actual cause of death," Johannesburg, 17 January. The people linked to rhino crimes said Dutta. The director said price of a horn of an African at various levels, ranging from the big cat might have been rhino has increased to 400,000 actual poachers to couriers and killed by some locals of the rand ($59,000) per kg, making kingpins, but South Africa has Char area, who were troubled it far more expensive than gold, already lost five rhinos in 2011, by the animal for some time. the South African Broadcasting he added. "Four veterinarians conducted Corporation (SABC) reported. the autopsy of the tigress in The SABC quoted the South Africa is home to more the presence of officials from International Rhino Foundation than 70 percent of the world's National Tiger Conservation as saying that demand for rhino remaining rhinos and experts Authority, Kaziranga director horns has caused its price to blame a booming black-market and other top forest officials escalate. demand for horns, which saw at the park. The samples have the number of the animals been sent for forensic tests," Rhino poaching increased in killed almost treble from 122 said divisional forest officer South Africa in 2010, with in 2009. (Kaziranga) Dibyadhar Gogoi. 330 rhinos shot dead for their horns in wildlife parks around It said rhino poaching cost the He added, "We have found the the country, compared to 122 country at least 250 million rand carcass of an adult female Royal in 2009, according to Xinhua. ($38 million) in 2010. Pelham Bengal Tiger near Hoflot forest Jones of the South African camp under the northern range "This has definitely been the Rhino Owners' Association said (Biswanath ghat) of the park. worst year for rhino poaching private game owners are losing The area in which the carcass -- this is the highest number their confidence in rhinos as an was found was under the ever recorded," National Parks investment because of the high newly-proposed sixth addition Agency spokesman Reynold risk of poaching and the huge of the park." Thakhuli told AFP. cost of protecting the animals.
13 The use of rhino horn in Thapa said that the traders Rhino killed Asian traditional medicine has attract the local people luring continued to feed demand and them with easy money. The Chitwan, 4 January. A male more recently, researchers say, Chinese traders give more rhino was killed by a poacher a belief that rhino horn can money than the Indian traders with gunshot in Chitwan cure cancer has emerged in so that the locals work for National Park. Vietnam. them. The horn of the rhino has Conservationists estimate there The Army assigned in Bardia been taken by the poacher. are around 25,000 rhinos left National Park use three types The dead rhino was found globally, with three species in of operations for controlling in Dhowaha village, Maadi. Asia and two in Africa. Asia's poaching. Sweeping, Ambush Chief Conservation Officer rhino populations have already and surveillance are the three of Chitwan National Park been pushed to the brink of operation executed by the Narendra Man Babu Pradhan extinction by hunting and Army in buffer zone. said they were informed in the deforestation. evening. The Chinese are held in Two Chinese seized with custody for investigation. The Veterinarian Kamal Gaire said Rhino's horn illegal; wildlife traders will that rhino was shot on the right be prosecuted according to shoulder. Last month, some Bardia, 3 January. Two Chinese national Park and wildlife Act traders had killed another rhino were arrested in the buffer zone 1973.The sentence for illegal and taken the hoof and horn. of Bardia National Park with trade and killing of wild animals The place of death of rhino is rhino's horn. is fifteen years imprisonment one kilometer away from the and one lakh fine. village adjacent to the park. Muwin Saichrin, 40 and Jame Ti Sen, 38, were found with rhino's Pangolin saved According to Chitwan National horn on checking according to Park official, thirteen rhinos The Park officials. They found Kathmandu, 3 January. A were killed in year 2009/10. two dozens horn, twenty lakh pangolin was saved from being The 2008 census showed 408 rupees and weighing machine. sold after team of Kathmandu rhinos but 30 of them already Municipality Crime Branch been killed after the census. They were captured trying to stopped the act. buy the wild animal's parts in Decrease in Migratory Magaragaadi. The media was The police seized the pangolin birds this year informed through a phone from Kavre, Khopasi but the call about the confiscation traders escaped. Itahari, 4 January. Koshi Tappu and Chinese citizens. Ramesh Wildlife reserve, considered Thapa, Deputy Conservation Chief Rana Bahadur Chand said as the 'paradise of birds', was Officer, said that after a that they were informed about deprived of migratory birds longtime, foreigners were the possible trading of pangolin this year. The native birds are captured associated with illegal in Kavre. The traders were also less in number this year. wildlife trade. He added, able to escape even though the the Nepal Army and Park police had covered the area. After the breaching of Koshi officials became successful to barrage, a large portion of the capture illegal traders who are The traders have been identified area has turned into desert. involved for a long time. The and the police is searching for Hem Sagar Baral, a bird expert, arrested Chinese are under them said Chand. The pangolin said that there is decrease in investigation. was handed to the Central Zoo, the number of migratory birds. Jawalakhel. There are 867 species of birds
14 found in Nepal of which 492 seen anymore. Baral said that Both of them have not been species are found in Koshi due to population growth arrested. Tappu. and loss of food, the number of birds is decreasing. More The team has found the truck Badri Narayan Chowdhary than 500 people are involved owned by Anamika Stores used of Koshi Campus said that in fishery which is a threat for loading and unloading of five years before, the tourists to the birds. Baral said the the orchids. The location from came from all over the world government should be more where the capture was done to sight birds. A decade ago, involved with the conservation falls under Kalpabrikchya range the migratory birds came from of birds. Vivekananda Jha of post. This is 30 km far from Siberia, Korea, Middle Asia. Koshi Tappu said that increase Sindhuli. The dispute between in number of people for the two parties over the loading The birds like Northern pintail construction of barrage has of the orchids led to the phone duck, Northern shoveler duck, made the native birds to move call said Dhittal. The orchids falcated duck, ferruginous away from the area. were unloaded in the house pochard duck, common after dispute between the two golden eye duck and common Koshi Tappu is stretched to parties. merganser have not been seen Sunsari, Saptari and Udaypur this year. covering area of 175 sq. km. Dittal said that a wide spread The eight of the lakes of nexus is involved in the illegal Chowdhary said that due to the wetlands are dry during trading of orchids. They have disappearance of the birds, summer. found the involvement of a the identity of Koshi Tappu is gang from Kavre in orchid going to change. This year, the Four tons Orchids found trade. In 19 November migratory birds seen were 150 2010 the cabinet banned the Eurasian wigeon, 500 ruddy collection, selling and trading shelduck, 2500 cormorant, of orchids. In a book published 1000 lesser whistling duck, by Bhakta Bahadur Raskoti in 150 gadwall duck, 2 black 2009 'Orchids of Nepal', there headed ibis said Warden Ashok are 302 species of orchids in Ram. While the migratory Nepal. It has medicinal values. birds have decreased, there is increase in vultures. About 500 Bird count in wetlands of the Himalayan vultures were spotted this year. Kathmandu, 6 January. The Kathmandu, 8 January. The joint team of District Forest bird count in wetland for this There are eight species of and Police found four tons of year was conducted. The bird vultures found in Nepal. banned orchids. Due to the count takes place in the second Among them white-rumped, dispute during the illegal trade, and third week of January slender-biled, red-headed and the police and district forest every year. The bird count in Egyptian vultures are listed as was able to know about it. the wetlands has been going on endangered. Due to excessive since twenty four years. cold in the Himalayan regions, District Forest Officer Yadav the vultures have migrated to Prasad Dhittal said that they The wetlands of Terai are Koshi Tappu. received anonymous call about important for water birds. the trade after which the joint The bird count was started in The endangered species team raided the house of Surya Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, like black-necked stork and Bahadur Ghole of Kapilakot Beeshazari lake, Jadgishpur greater adjutant were not seen. and found 3943 kilo of orchids. lake and Ghodaghodi lake Similarly, simtitara cannot be The house was given on lease. which are hotspot for bird
15 Beeshazari Lake Jadgishpur Lake Ghodaghodi Lake
watchers. Other than these Tiger count restricted to Three hundred eleven cameras famous spots, the count was Chure of the Park have been used for also done in ten wetlands in camera trapping and recapture Pokhara and in Bagmati and Chitwan, 16 January. Chitwan to collect the data. The Taudaha in Kathmandu said National Park has restricted the elephants would be used as per ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral. count of tiger only to in Chure the requirement. region due to lack of budget. Baral said that to estimate the 'The counting has been started Tiger count also helps in number of birds and for regular only in Chure due to lack of understanding the biodiversity monitoring, the bird census budget. In that also, most of the of the region and formulate is very important. Along with funding has been done by the plans for conservation believes the bird count, the census research students themselves' the conservationists. But also looks upon the decrease said Chief Warden Narendra according to the park, the in number of birds and the Man Babu Pradhan. destruction of the habitat and conservation methods. Wetland food of the tigers have increased is an important region for birds This year no funding was more challenges. The tigers go and other rare species. provided by the donors which to the human settlement for has affected the census of food which has alarmed the Dr. Baral said that there are animals. He said they are park. many species of duck, white- searching for donors. This year breasted waterhen, common DNPWC has also neglected the In 2008, the tiger count was coot, purple swamphen, great census. done in Nepal at one time. At cormorant, and egret but there that time, tiger was not counted number has been decreasing The tiger count was started four in the Chure region. In 2010, every year. years ago. Two years ago, the there were 125 adult tigers in tiger count was started in the Chitwan National Park. The Two hundred people were Park in the entire region. The range of tiger is from 95 to involved in the bird census students involved in tiger count 184. which was completed in two are doing their dissertation weeks. The team of one to for their Ph.D. Last year, even Last year, the government 25 are formed according to though the counting was done gave 38 lakhs for tiger count. the location said Baral. The for two months, the overall The tiger count was done in local people's participation information could not be partnership with government was encouraged for counting. obtained. This year, four teams of Nepal, DNPWC, NTNC, The counting was headed by of five members have been WWF Nepal, CNP and TAL Wetlands International. formed and blocking has been program, done for counting.
16 The herbs of Panchase unutilized
Parvat, 18 January. Millions of rupees are going down the drain with the lack of initiation to utilize the herbs of Panchase region. Situated in between Parvat, Kaski and Syanja, it is a paradise for herbs. Due to lack of scientific studies and investigations, the worthy plants have become foods for pasture animals. It has been declared as Conservation Area this year.
The local people have requested government for establishment of process center on local level as the government has not been giving any consideration to it. Rupesh Gurung, member of for poachers. The poachers and Spotted deer, Himalayan Goral, Naule Charchare Community hunters have entered the jungle serow, leopard and bear. The Forest User Group said that with illegal arms for poaching poachers use rifles and traps to the negligence on part of while the concerned authorities kill the animals. government has made all the have not shown any interest valuable foliages just food for towards the issue. The police and forest office have animals. been informed of the increasing Kailash, Kada, Surma, poaching in the region but no According to him, out of 307 Daulichor, Gadraya, Dahabagar, action has been taken to control species of herbs found in the Lekgau, Majhigau, Kalukheti, the illegal activities informed world, 151 species are found Rilu, Syadi are some of the Shyam Budha, a local. in Panchase. Out of 381 species places where the hunters have of orchids in the world, 266 come in groups with arms for Budha said that from Rilu alone, species are found in this region hunting. five groups of hunters have only. The area of this region is gone to Bajhang and Bajura 5,500 ha and is 785m-2517m Due to snowfall, the birds and for hunting. The hunters kill above the sea level. wild animals from the region the wild animals and sell them move to lower elevation. This as dry meat or as raw meat or Poaching increased after makes it easier for poachers to alive. Snowfall hunt. The meat brought illegally is Bajhang, 19 January. The Every year the hunters form bought by the district level thick snowfall on the higher group of 10-15 and hunt offi cers and businessmen. mountainous region of the Himalayan Monal, Kalij district has become a hotspot pheasant, Boar, Musk deer,
17 The fate of snow leopards in and around Mt. Everest
Som B. Ale1,2, Kamal Thapa3, Rodney Jackson2 and J.l. David Smith1
Since the early 2000s snow leopards Panthera uncia have re-colonized the southern slopes of Mt. Everest after several decades of extirpation. Are they now beginning to disperse to the adjoining valleys that may serve as habitat corridors linking the Everest region to other protected areas in Nepal? We conducted a cursory survey in autumn 2009 in Rolwaling lying west of Mt. Everest and detected snow leopard presence. We conclude that in these remote valleys snow leopards must rely upon livestock given the low abundance of natural prey, Himalayan tahr. Livestock-rearing is unfortunately declining in the region. Rolwaling requires immediate conservation attention for the continued survival of the endangered snow leopard and other high altitude fl ora and fauna.
hile snow leopards organized a three-week survey given its relative inaccessibility Ware declining in most in Rolwaling to assess the status and because it did not lie on the range-countries, their return of snow leopards. important China-India trade to Sagarmatha (Mt. Everest) routes. On 16 October 2009, National Park after an apparent A thousand of years ago in after four days of continuous trek absence of several decades the foothills of the Himalayas, up along the Rolwaling River, attests to the species’ resilience Padma Sambhava, the Indian we reached Bedin (3,510 m), (Ale & Boesi 2005). It has also yogi who brought the teachings a settlement of 65 households, raised conservation challenges. of Buddhism from India to and Na (4,120 m), the summer Will Sagarmatha be able to Tibet, plowed a valley out of dwelling of Bedin’s Sherpas. maintain a viable population the mountains to serve as one Partially shielded by southern of snow leopards? Could this of eight beyul (Shangri-La) mountains from the monsoon, re-established population serve in Nepal, Tibet and Sikkim, this area has characteristics as source for re-colonizing the refuges that were to of the dry inner Himalaya. adjacent areas? The answer to remain hidden in a time of Mixed stands of Abies, Betula the first question is probably unprecedented religious crisis and Rhododendron become “no”. As large wide-ranging protecting dharma until the thinner as one ascends to Na, carnivores at the apex of the misfortune passed. One beyul being completely replaced by food-chain, snow leopards in Nepal went by the name of juniper and rhododendrons require large areas. None Rolwaling in the shadow of interspersed with alpine grasses of Nepal’s protected areas the lofty mountain Tseringma and sedges. When the potato (including Sagarmatha) is large (7,181 m), or Gauri Shankar, was introduced in the mid- enough in itself to contain which is believed to be the nineteenth century (Bjønness a viable population of snow eldest of five divine sisters (one 1980), cultivation became leopards estimated at around of them is reputed to reside on possible at lower altitudes, so 50 breeding individuals (Soule the summit of Mt. Everest). It the Sherpa, who primarily lived 1987, Jackson & Ahlborn is here, not Khumbu, as most in Na, built Bedin and other 1990). The best answer to the believe, the notorious and winter settlements further second question is “perhaps”. celebrated yeti made its home. downstream. Unlike Khumbu The high valleys of Sagarmatha, The sacred land today maintains which received protected area or Khumbu, are connected to Buddhist bans on hunting and status since 1976, Rolwaling the Rolwaling valley via the high slaughter, elsewhere observed falls outside Nepal’s protected Teshi Lapcha La pass (5,755 less scrupulously. area network. Excessive hunting m) that may serve as dispersal - exclusively done by outsiders corridor. In October 2009, we Little is known about Rolwaling - has caused Himalayan
18 curved horns of blue sheep from this terrain. Do Omai Tsho and areas encompassing glaciated Tso-Rolpa Lake (which has been in the radar of glacial lake outburst for decades), serve as snow leopard refuge? Perhaps.
Fig. 1 Snow leopard habitat in Omai Fig. 2 A set of snow leopard pugmarks We randomly laid out 6 sign- Tsho (4,600m), Rolwaling (Photo S. in Omai Tsho (Photo S. Ale). transects with a total length of Ale). 4,023 m (mean 700 m, SE=75 tahr Hemitragus jemlahicus Snow leopards may cross this m) following standard SLIMS population to plummet, unlike pass. But how do we know procedures (Jackson & Hunter nearby Khumbu where tahr are whether the individual in Omai 1996). We detected several relatively abundant (Lovari et Tsho traveled from Khumbu scrapes, scats, pugmarks and al. 2009). As with many hunted or represented a resident of tufts of hair on sites where ungulate populations, the kid- Rolwaling? This is a difficult snow leopards had rubbed to-female ratio here is good (> question that can be answered against rocks, along all but 0.7, that is, over 70% mothers only by using techniques of one transect (13 signs in 9 had young). In Rolwaling, we genetics or radio telemetry. sites, 3.2 signs; 2.2 sign sites located just three distinct herds Along a nearby ridgeline, we per km). Our “incidental” sign comprised of only 5, 4 and 3 encountered several relic scrapes search – that is, recording signs individuals. Clearly, Rolwaling’s and feces, an indication that that we encountered while tahr population cannot support snow leopards regularly visit walking between transects or even a single snow leopard. the area. This was surprising while searching other wildlife because this rolling area – once – revealed 16 signs (11 sites Field notes from 18 October inhabited by blue sheep some with signs) in 13 full search- 2009 reflect the difficulty of 50 years ago – supports just a days from 16 to 29 October finding snow leopard sign in few tahr. Local shepherds also 2009 (Table 1, Fig. 3). The Rolwaling: occasionally collected the huge rarity of signs suggests that
The 8th day of our arduous search for snow leopards in Na – we had yet to discover a “clear” set of snow leopard pugmarks. That day, we climbed several hundred meters up the rugged, moraine-hills, one after another, to reach the sacred, 4,600 m high glacial lake, Omai Tsho, which is inhabited by invisible spirits that are half man and half serpent. Lo and behold, a clear set of footprints along the beach: an adult snow leopard (Fig. 1,2)! Local herdsmen reported snow leopard pugmarks in the nearby high Teshi Lapcha La Fig. 3 Map showing snow leopard sign transects and incidental sign in the upper pass leading to Mt. Everest. Rolwaling Valley.
19 Table 1. Number and type of snow leopard sign detected in Rolwaling in October 2009. Transect Incidental Search Signs Sign sites Signs Sign sites Feces 3 2 10 8 Hair 3321 Pugmark 1111 Scrape 6331 Total 13 9 16 11 snow leopards are scarce in Rolwaling. To take while also discouraging tahr poaching through an extreme case, Langu in west Nepal, with a education and patrolling or other means of snow leopard density of 8-10 cats/100 km2, increased vigilance. revealed 36 signs per km (Jackson 1996). While our exhaustive interviews with local herders Bedin-Na may serve as a strategic corridor for suggested the presence of three adult snow dispersing snow leopards from the Everest area. leopards, we obtained the evidence of just one, A detailed, systematic corridor assessment would a set of pugmarks, but there may be more snow help identify suitable snow leopard-corridors leopards. for implementing conservation interventions, not only in Rolwaling but also further west. By We conclude that, despite low natural prey mapping seasonal livestock movements, other abundance, snow leopards survive in Rolwaling biological and physical variables in addition to by relying on livestock. Livestock-rearing is snow leopard sign data and analyzing DNA from unfortunately declining as more and more youth scats, hair and kills, it may be possible to develop seek employment in lucrative trekking and agent based corridor models that can predict climbing expeditions that entail their extended how snow leopards will respond to various absence and even permanent emigration from management options. Such models can be used Rolwaling. Currently, only 32 of 65 households to explore metapopulation dynamics and devise reside permanently in Bedin-Na. We counted management strategies of general application in 425 livestock (yak, cattle and small ruminants), other snow leopard range countries. three times lower than the number just a decade 1 Department of Biological Sciences (M/C 066) ago. This indicates that the snow leopards’ food University of Illinois at Chicago, 845 West Taylor Street, Chicago, base has substantially declined. From September IL 60607,
Published by: Wildlife Watch Group (WWG), GPO Box 8975, EPC 696, Machaagal-20, Pulchowk, Lalitpur, Nepal Phone: +977-1-5524188, 5555018, Fax: +977-1-5555018, E-mail: [email protected], Editor: Mangal Man Shakya, Design & Print: WW GPS