Conservation experts fear rhinos near extinction in Nepal

January 1, 2007

rts_fear_rhinos_near_extinction_in_Nepal

Conservation experts fear rhinos near extinction in Nepal (Jan 1, 2007, 6:58

GMT)

Kathmandu - Nepalese wildlife experts and activists painted a bleak picture for

the endangered one-horned Asian rhinoceros in the country's protected reserves,

a Nepalese newspaper report said Monday.

The English-language Himalayan Times quoted conservation activists as saying

that the animal would be extinct in the country within the next 20 years if the

current rate of poaching continues.

'The total number of rhinos that died due to poaching and natural causes in 2006

was around 47,' Mangal Man Shakya, chairman of the Wildlife Watch Group, told

the newspaper. 'One cannot even imagine that such an endangered species is being

poached so rampantly. If rhino poaching continues at this rate, no rhinos will

be left in Nepal in the next 10 to 20 years.'

According to unofficial statistics, Nepal had 372 rhinos in 2005, down from more

than 600 in 2000. Rhinos are mostly poached for their horns, which fetch as much

as 49,000 dollars per kilogram, wildlife experts said.

Conservationist Prasanna Yonzon of Wildlife Conservation Nepal called 2006 'a

disaster year for rhino conservation.'

He also blamed the government for the upward trend in poaching, saying it had

released convicted poachers in recent years.

However, the Nepalese government has previously said the increase in poaching

was because of the conflict with Maoist rebels, which resulted in the removal of

security forces from national parks and reserves.

But the government claim was rejected by the conservationists who said poaching

has risen dramatically since April 2005 when the government and the Maoists

agreed to end the conflict. However, they gave no clear data on how many rhinos

were poached during that period.

Nepal recorded considerable success in rhino conservation when it set up

national parks in the early 1970s, but the country also saw rapid deforestation

and loss of rhino habitat during that period.

Nepal had more than 800 one-horned rhinos in 1950. That number went down to

fewer than 60 in 1960.

Government promised to re-establish security posts in the national parks that

were removed because of the Maoist insurgency, but so far, most of the security

posts remain vacant.

Recommended Posts