Posted on January, 17 2007

Chitwan, Nepal – Four illegal wildlife part smugglers, three of them women, were arrested with one rhino horn, weighting balance, mobile phone and NRs 50,000 by an anti-poaching team from the District Forest Office at Chitwan on Tuesday, 16 January 2007.

The investigation team led by Mr Bhairav Ghimire, Attached Forest Officer Chitwan designated as special anti-poaching officer by the Department of Forests, acted on information gathered by Mr Ram Bahadur Karki of the Armed Forest Guard who is running the local informant network established few months ago. The team is supported by WWF through the Terai Arc Landscape Program. This marks the team’s fourth successful arrest of poachers and illegal wildlife traders.

The arrested have been identified as Mr. Sonam Tshering Lama originally from Humla, Mrs. Sarswoti Thapalia of Chitwan, Mrs. Parbati Gautam of Nuwakot, and Ms. Radha Thapa of Chitwan. All of them currently live in the capital Kathmandu.

The investigation team is seeking important information further into the illegal wildlife trade following interrogations with the accused. They hope to uncover the network in Chitwan and follow leads into Kathmandu.

The people of Chitwan have been supporting the authorities to nab rhino poachers and traders. A large number of locals who had gathered at the time of the arrest threatened to beat up the poachers and assembled at the local forest office to demand strict punishment for the arrested.