BBC Poachers target rare Nepal rhino

[Guest guest]

> * Poachers target rare Nepal rhino *

>Poachers in Nepal target an endangered rhino for

>its horn, reputed to have aphrodisiac qualities.

>Full story:

>http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/em/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6111614.stm

Poachers target rare Nepal rhino

Surendra Phuyal

BBC News, Kathmandu

 

 

Conservation officials in Nepal have vowed to

step up anti-poaching measures after a spate of

killings this week of an endangered rhinoceros

species.

 

By Wednesday, poachers had killed four

single-horned Asiatic rhinos in and around

Chitwan National Park. Many more have been killed

this year.

 

The horn of the animal is sought after for its alleged aphrodisiac qualities.

 

Chitwan now has fewer than 400 rhinos, besides

other endangered wildlife species like the Royal

Bengal tiger.

 

Epidemic of poaching

 

Park officials and the local community have

become increasingly worried with each fresh rhino

killing this week.

 

Anil Manandher, from the international

conservation group WWF, said a team had been sent

to the Chitwan area to find ways to curb the

epidemic of poaching.

 

" After our officials in the field report back, "

he told the BBC, " we will actively pursue some

anti-poaching measures based on a recent

multi-stakeholder declaration. "

 

In recent years, villagers living in and around

the 1,000-sq km park have teamed up with the

authorities to try to conserve the endangered

wildlife in Chitwan.

 

Gopal Upadhyay, the park's warden, told the BBC

that since January 2005, a total of 35 rhinos

have been found dead in and around the park.

 

Only ten have died from natural causes.

 

A 2005 census counted 372 rhinos in Chitwan, down from 544 in 2000.

 

" We can't do anything alone, " Mr Upadhyay said.

" We need support from everybody to protect these

animals. "

 

World Heritage site

 

Krishna Bhurtel, the chairman of a local village

committee, blames the authorities.

 

" Past governments have released the jailed poachers, " he told the BBC.

 

" That's why poachers are on the prowl and

killing wildlife fearlessly. All the political

parties need to be more active, too. "

 

Alarmed by the rise in rhino poaching, local

stakeholders, international conservation groups

and the park authorities met in August.

 

They said they would work together to improve anti-poaching operations.

 

After Chitwan National Park was created in 1976,

the rhino population began to increase from fewer

than 100.

 

The park was listed as a World Heritage site by the United Nations in 1984.

 

The rise in rhino numbers prompted

conservationists to move some of the animals to

two other parks in western Nepal.

 

But in recent years, officials say, the Maoist

insurgency has taken its toll in Bardia and

Shukla Phanta nature preserves in western Nepal,

affecting the rhino populations there as well.

Story from BBC NEWS:

http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/1/hi/world/south_asia/6111614.stm

 

Published: 2006/11/02 23:20:08 GMT

 

© BBC MMVI

 

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