Tell Bardia rangers you care, send a postcard today!

They frequently receive death threats, and spend days, even weeks, away from their loved ones. Yet, despite all these challenges, they are happy to plough on, putting life and limb at risk, to protect what they believe is important – Nepal’s wild tigers.

They are the ranger team from Bardia National Park and representing them here are core team members Chief Warden Tika Ram Adhikari, Battalion Commander Ishwor Thapa, and Assistant Chief Warden Ramesh Thapa.

"I do receive a lot of death threats"

Said Ramesh: “Regardless of all the challenges, I am happy and satisfied to be working to save the wild tigers in Nepal. I do receive a lot of death threats but then the passion I have for tiger conservation is what keeps me going.”

A typical day for the team involves going on patrol thrice a day – morning, noon and evening.

A single patrol mission comprises at least 10-15 members from the national park, Nepal Army and community-based anti-poaching unit.

Days at end in the forest

Setting off in jeeps, the team takes a specific path, keeping an eagle-eye out for any sign of poaching or anything unusual. The team also undertakes long-range patrolling that requires spending 4-5 days out in the forest. It is not uncommon for the rangers to come across traps laid by poachers. 

Acting on tip-offs

At times when the patrol team receives a tip-off from informants as to the whereabouts of poachers, the core team – the chief warden, Nepal army’s battalion commander and assistant chief warden – meets to discuss and decide on how to undertake a mission to catch the poachers.

According to Ramesh, it is important to keep good relations with the local communities as most of the poachers are uninformed, ignorant villagers.

Enlisting the support of villagers

The illegal wildlife traders from outside the area use the villagers to poach the animals. Hence, educating and raising awareness among the local communities is an equally important part of the rangers’ job.

The hard work is paying off for the team in Bardia; they have been able to effectively reduce wildlife crime and punish the culprits with appropriate sentences. As a result, they have witnessed a significant rise in wildlife species numbers. A tiger count done in March 2012 revealed that the population has doubled in the last three years.

Success has definitely given the team self-confidence and further encouraged them with sheer determination to strive for success.