Poaching threatens Nepali Rhinos

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Nepal rhinos threatened by resurgent poaching

Published: Saturday, 4 November, 2006, 09:27 AM Doha Time

 

*KATHMANDU:* Wildlife authorities in Nepal are concerned about a spike in

poaching of an endangered species of rhinoceros after four of the animals

were killed in the past two weeks in the country's biggest wildlife reserve.

 

Demand from China for rhino horns, which are believed to have aphrodisiac

qualities, has fuelled the resurgence of poaching. A security vacuum created

by Nepal's long Maoist insurgency has created the opportunity.

 

Last year a census showed the population of Indian Rhinoceros, also known as

the Great One-horned Rhinoceros, in Chitwan National Park had fallen to just

372, its lowest level in 10 years, down from 544 in 2000.

 

Poachers appear to have whittled that number down even further with at least

five more rhinos killed in July.

 

" It is very serious and a matter of great concern, " said Gopal Upadhyay,

chief warden of the park on Nepal's southern plains, which is home to the

largest number of the animals outside India. " We are very much on full

alert. "

 

Laxmi Prasad Manandhar, a senior official at the Department of National Park

and Wildlife Conservation, said poaching was the chief reason for rhino

deaths.

 

The closure of smaller security posts in the park, and their merger with

bigger posts - because of a threat from Maoist insurgents - had made it more

difficult to police the park.

 

Maoist rebels had made poorly equipped small posts a major target of their

decade-long insurgency to overthrow the monarchy.

 

But conditions had improved since the Maoists declared a ceasefire in April

and opened peace talks with the government.

 

" We have already restored five security posts and more are being set up, "

Upadhyay said. " We are also trying to get more involvement of the local

community in anti-poaching drives. "

 

Officials said they had arrested three women for the latest killings, the

first time women had been accused of direct involvement in poaching.

 

Rhino horn fetches up to $10,000 per kg in the international market, experts

say. Poachers also sell rhino horns, hooves and other body parts for

traditional medicines.

 

Nepal began its rhino conservation drive 30 years ago when the population in

the Himalayan nation fell to just 108 animals from around 800 in 1950.

Anyone found guilty of poaching can be jailed for up to 15 years.

 

Thousands of tourists visit Chitwan every year, with the Indian rhinos the

star attraction. Their only other home is in India's northeastern state of

Assam, most in the Kaziranga National Park. There were more than 1,800

animals there at last count. – Reuters