NP: Briton running 'illegal' parahawking for years

[Guest guest]

*Briton running 'illegal' parahawking for years *

 

http://www.myrepublica.com/portal/index.php?action=news_details & news_id=14692

 

AKANSHYA SHAH

 

KATHMANDU, Feb 1: A bird rescue organization in Pokhara owned by a British

national and associated with Frontiers Paragliding has captured and trained

five Black Kites (Milvus migrans) and two Egyptian Vultures (Neophron

percnopterus), which are included on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species

in 2006 and 2009, respectively, for parahawking purpose.

 

" There is no legal base to such an activity. According to National Parks and

Wildlife Conservation Act, 1973, no private company can hold any animals or

birds, " Dr Ravi Aryal, a CITES expert, said. He said, " In case of rescue,

the birds have to be handed over immediately to either the District Forest

Office, Kaski, or to the Annapurna Conservation Area Project office. "

 

British falconer Scott Mason´s Himalayan Raptor Rescue charges 120 euros per

half an hour for flying the birds on the paragliding route (Sarangkot to

Lakeside) in Pokhara. Parahawking is a unique activity combining paragliding

with elements of falconry. Birds of prey are trained to fly with

paragliders, guiding them to thermals for in-flight rewards and performing

aerobatic maneuvers.

 

Dr Aryal said the health condition of the birds is unknown and that there is

also a great danger of transfer of diseases from the birds when humans come

in contact with the birds. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife

Conservation has said that it is " unaware " of such a happening. Shiv Raj

Bhatta, the department´s spokesperson, said, " No such company has been

issued license by the department. " He also said there is " no record " with

the department of any rescue or rehabilitation done by the company.

 

When contacted for comment, Mason said he has been in the business for nine

years now and claimed that he has rehabilitated some 20-30 birds of various

kinds. He also said he has nine birds in possession at present, including an

injured Steppe Eagle rescued on December 1.

 

" This is a private initiative. I have been in the business for nine years

and we charge 120 euros for half an hour for parahawking, " Mason said.

 

Asked about the legal grounds, he said, " We have BCN [birds Conservation

Nepal] approval, " adding, " There is nothing legal or illegal about it

[parahawking]. "

 

The Birds Conservation Nepal, an NGO, has denied any connection with Mason´s

organization. " We do not have any alliance with the Himalayan Raptor

Rescue, " Hum Gurung, the CEO of BCN told myrepublica.com.

 

A team of conservationists who visited the company on Saturday told

myrepublica.com that they found Mason engaged in a " flourishing business. "

 

" It is illegal for a foreigner to run such an entertainment business in the

name of bird rehabilitation. Mason has no papers and there is no record of

any bird being rehabilitated, " Manoj Gautam, a conservationist and a member

of the team, told myrepublica.com.

 

akanshya

 

--

Lucia de Vries

Freelance Journalist

Nepal - Netherlands