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IUCN members call for action to rhino conservation
in Nepal
10 January 2007

IUCN Commission members of Nepal submitted a petition to the Environment Conservation Committee of the House of Representatives to take meaningful action on the most important issue facing Nepal's wildlife today--rhino poaching.

Nepal has witnessed a sharp decline in the number of one-horned rhinoceros population and they are fighting for survival. While the country is reeling under recovering rhinos coupled with addressing the post-conflict recovery measures, the government, I/NGOs and civil society have been exploring several ways and means to support for the conservation of this endangered pachyderm listed under the IUCN Red Data Book.

At this hour of crisis, IUCN earlier convened a meeting of its Commission members and experts from a range of four disciplines (including Species Survival Commission) to provide the Government of Nepal with sound scientific know-how and policy advice on how to address rhino issues in Nepal. A total of 25 experts and core conservationists participated in the interaction programme.

The meeting discussed several issues to collectively seek ways out to contain rhino poaching and identified strategic immediate, short-term and long-term measures to cope with this national problem.

  • The following recommendations have been made to the Government of Nepal on immediate, short-term and long-term basis:

  • Formation and mobilisation of special rhino protection squad

  • Formation of high level parliamentary committee to assess the ground reality.

  • Formation of central multi-stakeholder rhino protection taskforce

  • A detailed post conflict assessment of protected areas

  • Reinstatement of army and forest posts

  • Strengthening of community anti-poaching groups

  • Mobilisation of local youths in anti-poaching activities

  • Generating massive awareness and advocacy programmes

  • Creating a Compensation Fund.

  • Implementation of Rhino Action Plan and CITES Bill

  • Assessment of rhino population through recounting in Chitwan, Bardia National Parks and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve

Meanwhile, in a bid to contain rhino poaching, IUCN Nepal handed over the much needed field gears to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation required for the mobilization of their protection staff. A total of 10 units of tents, 30 sleeping bags and 30 mattresses amounting to Rs. 300,000 (rupees three hundred thousands only) were handed over for its immediate action in Chitwan National Park. IUCN also plans to hand over such field gears for rhino protection and monitoring in Bardia Natrional Park and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

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