Posted on January, 04 2007

Chitwan Nepal - Following an alarming rise of rhino poaching in Chitwan National Park and neighboring areas in recent months, authorities in have stepped up efforts to thwart further poaching activities. As many as 13 individuals have been arrested on charges related to poaching/working as accomplices in illegal wildlife activities since 8 December. Enforcement authorities along with boosted support from the local communities have now begun to put in rigorous efforts to take control of the poaching situation in and around Chitwan National Park.

This has resulted in,

8 Dec - The arrest of 4 persons by the police in Gongobu,Kathmandu in possession of a rhino horn. The horn was found in a plastic bag from the offender's belongings.

9 Dec - The arrest of a notorious rhino poacher Raj Kumar Praja by the Forest Armed Guard of Chitwan District Forest Office. He had escaped arrest from the Chitwan National Park anti-poaching team on more than three occasions in the past. Praja confessed his involvement and responsibility in the poaching of at least three rhinos in Barandabhar Forest highway (north).

11 Dec - 6 persons being arrested from Tamaspur area of Nawalparasi district of which 2 were fugitives warranted by the park on charges of rhino poaching and rhino horn trading while other two were arrested on charges of keeping an illegal gun and dabbling in poaching activities. The remaining two were arrested while trying to escape what looked like a rhino horn purchase point. They had in their possession a large sum of money probably meant for purchasing rhino horns.

16 Dec - The arrest of an individual on charges of providing information regarding rhino locations to poachers for poaching purposes. The arrest was also carried out by the Forest Armed Guard of Chitwan District Forest Office. He had previously served 22 months in prison on charges of rhino poaching in Chitwan.

17 Dec - The arrest of an accomplice of Raj Kumar Praja who possessed illegal firearms used to kill rhinos. A resident of Sidhi VDC Saikatan, he put up a brief confrontation with a Khukuri (local machete) before the officials took him in control. Local villagers had helped the enforcement officials in arresting Praja. Some members of the team incurred minor injuries by his attacks.

Within a period of 1 Jan - 21 December 2006, a total of 19 rhinos have been lost to poaching in Chitwan alone. In this regard, the recent arrests have put in new vigor and zeal among members of the enforcement authorities and the local communities alike in protecting the rhino. Different initiatives have been taken among which the most striking was the campaign which succeeded in collecting more than 100,000 public signatures urging the government to act swiftly in protecting and conserving rhinos in . WWF continues to support district forest offices, strengthen anti poaching activities, raise awareness and mobilize communities/youth groups to protect rhinos in Nepal.