Rupak Maharjan, Ranger/Field Coordinator, Chitwan National Park
© WWF-Nepal
The rangers at Nepal's Chitwan National Park will attest that working in nature conservation is a great experience as you are involved in protecting wildlife.
But the road to protection is not always easy and can also be dangerous. For ranger Rupak Maharjan, it nearly cost him his life 4 years ago.
Threatened, cornered in the line of duty
Recounting the incident that happened in mid-April 2008, he told of how he and his colleagues were surrounded by some 300 villagers, all armed with weapons. The rangers were then investigating a suspected poacher, who according to their informants had tiger skin and bones.
They found the suspect hiding in his house in one of the villages just outside Chitwan National Park. But there were no tiger parts.
After interrogation, the suspect finally agreed to take the rangers to another house where he claimed the tiger parts were kept.
But once there, the situation took a turn. The rangers were cornered by angry villagers who came with the intention to beat them up, thinking they were thieves.
The villagers even accused Rupak of mistreating the local women. Somehow Rupak managed to call his chief warden, who sent in a police troop to rescue the rangers.
Not losing faith
“The situation was so tense that even the police had to pretend to arrest us as thieves,” recalled Rupak. Although the rangers were not successful in the mission, they were not disheartened.
The incident only made them want to work even harder towards the conservation cause.
For Rupak, this is his passion. He has always love wildlife since childhood. He loves his job as it allows him to work with wildlife. Since starting work as a ranger, he has been involved with anti-poaching activities.
Optimistic
Strong ranger commitments and community-based programmes have resulted in Zero Poaching of tigers in Chitwan National Park in 2011.
Though it is difficult to stay alert and aware 365 days a year, the ranger team is determined to work hard to achieve yet another year of zero poaching of tigers in Chitwan.
