By Navin Singh Khadka
It is a persisting irony. A country with a smash-hit track record in nature conservation, Nepal often finds itself dis-reputedly involved in illegal wildlife trafficking. While it boasts of increasing a number of endangered species including tigers, rhinos and snow leopards in its protected areas, Nepali territories have been transit points for the transportation of these animals’ body parts.
Sample these facts: this week, Nepal celebrated World Tiger Day by making public a rewarding result of tiger conservation. The latest data showed that the population of this endangered species has gone up by more than 60 percent since 2009. And yet, sacks-full of tiger bones, claws and pelts continue to be frequently seized at different Nepal-China border points.
In another example, while even a rogue elephant like Dhurbe—initially ordered shot to death—remains elusive in the country’s plains, elephant tusks are smuggled out to China through Nepal. A recent incident of such smuggling even led to a strike by labour unions at the Tatopani customs point. They argued that the driver caught for the crime had no idea what he was carrying in the vehicle while the alleged owner of the contraband had already made it across the border.
Take rhinos as yet another instance. With increased security in national parks and protected areas and sophisticated anti-poaching technology, the pachyderms are much safer than they were a few years ago. Officials even celebrated one of the recent years as “zero-poaching” year. While just across the border, more than 20 rhinos were poached in the Kaziranga national park in India’s Assam state in the past year. Wildlife conservationists believe several horns from the poached rhinos have been smuggled out via Nepal. More....