Training held to control human-wildlife conflict

By Gokarna Dayal,Baitadi, Mar. 12: The National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), which has said that wildlife crimes such as poaching are contributing to the rising human-wildlife conflict, has started providing training on wildlife crime prevention.

According to Laxmiraj Joshi, Chief of the NTNC Shuklaphanta Conservation Office, a five-day training was conducted for frontline personnel from the Division Forest Office and various other agencies involved in controlling wildlife crimes.

As part of the programme, the first phase of training was conducted in Baitadi, Dadeldhura and Achham from March 3 to March 7. The training was delivered by trained forest personnel and representatives from the Division Forest Office, protected area offices, Nepal Police, government attorney's office, district court and NTNC.

Human-leopard conflict

Since 2011, the human-leopard conflict in Baitadi has resulted in 28 human casualties. An equal number of leopards have also been killed in traps. Experts have argued that the conflict has escalated after leopards lost their natural prey due to poaching.

To study the conflict, the NTNC has installed 50 automated cameras in various locations across the Tallo Sworad area of Baitadi. The cameras have been set up in three affected municipalities--Melauil Municipality, Shivanath Rural Municipality and Pancheshwar Rural Municipality. The research team recorded leopard and wildlife activities for 15 days and returned with the findings.

Based on the recorded data, the NTNC began training frontline personnel and engaging with communities to control poaching, Joshi added.

Awareness and community support

The research team has mapped wildlife habitats and biological corridors. To conserve tigers, leopards and other wildlife in Sudurpashchim Province, strategic activities have been initiated. These include cross-border conservation interactions, management of protected areas, promotion of alternative livelihoods, construction of predator-proof livestock sheds, establishment of wildlife rescue centres and deployment of equipment and personnel. Conservation education is also being promoted to foster human-wildlife coexistence.

In Bishalpur village of Melauil Municipality-9, locals have been educated that leopards are not enemies of humans. The locals were also trained on changing habits to reduce conflict. As part of this initiative, 36 families received Rs. 3.2 million to support alternative livelihoods, said social leader Nariram Lohar.

Communities in leopard-affected areas have received assistance for goat sheds, ginger and turmeric farming and agricultural product collection centres. Similarly, two community forest groups in the affected villages were provided with Rs. 1.8 million as revolving funds, enabling residents to access loans at a 6 per cent interest rate to support their livelihoods.