By Abhinash Chaudhary
Dhangadi, Dec. 28: Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP), a prominent tourist destination of the far-western region, has been recording a steady rise of visitors since opening its doors to the general public on October 17, 2020.
A number of domestic tourists are flocking the protected area after almost six-month-long hiatus following the COVID-19 pandemic.
According to Assistant Conservation Officer Rabin Chaudhary, 395 domestic tourists visited Shuklaphanta until mid-November. "Tourism significantly declined since April, but it's slowly picking up now,” he says.
Chaudhary considers the footfall of about 400 people at Shuklaphanta as an encouraging sign given the taxing circumstances.
However, among the recorded visitors, all are reportedly domestic tourists. The park office has not been able to collect much revenue due to non-arrival of foreign tourists, informs Chaudhary stressing that SNP has earned a revenue of just a little over Rs. 100,000 in the last two months.
Contrary to the statistics of this year, by March 25 of the last fiscal year, a total of 1,575 domestic and foreign tourists had visited Shuklaphanta.
SNP is famous the world over for its extensive grasslands and biodiversity. According to last year's census, the number of barasingha (Rucervus duvaucelii), also called swamp deer in Shuklaphanta was 2,272.
Similarly, there are 16 tigers, 17 rhinos and at least 10 native wild elephants in the park. However, 50-60 wild elephants from India have also been migrating to Shuklaphanta regularly.
At least 450 species of birds have been found in the SNP. Likewise, some 113 Krishnasar (Antilope cervicapra), also called blackbuck, can be observed frolicking in the Hirapur grassland. Previously, there were 115 blackbucks but one baby was killed and eaten by a leopard and another by a steppe eagle.
Located on the Nepal-India border area, the park attracts a large number of Indian tourists to observe wildlife and a variety of bird species. However, they have failed to visit the park this year due to the closure of border checkpoints.
If border restrictions are eased or lifted, the number of tourists will likely increase in the current season, predicts Chaudhary.
The work of those employed as nature guides at Shuklaphanta has come to a standstill due to a dearth of foreign tourists as a result of which some have already left the occupation.
Bishnu Paneru, who has been working as a nature guide for the past six years, says that the tourism business is not going to be a profitable business due to COVID-19 pandemic.
"Right now our work has come to a grinding halt. Even though local tourists have started coming, we are finding it hard to recuperate. Local tourists don’t need a guide. Even if they need our assistance, it comes at a price of overlong and unproductive bargains over payments,” he bemoans.
Paneru claims to have 'bookings' for tourists from Thailand and the United States. "However, they have not been able to come because of this pandemic. Let's see if Nepal Tourism Board has some plans up its sleeves for helping those like us who rely on the tourism sector for livelihood," he adds.
It is said that wildlife is not easily seen now in SNP as the park area is covered by grass. Nature guide Paneru urged the park office to be mindful of grass management.