Environment Minister stresses on efficient zoo management, conservation campaign

Patan (Lalitpur), Dec 29: Minister for Forests and Environment and Chairman of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC), Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, has expressed his commitment to focus on making the zoo management efficient and the conservation campaigns more effective.

Addressing a programme oraganized at Jawalakhel today on the occasion of the 30th anniversary of the Central Zoo Management and the release of a souvenir publication and an award ceremony, he praised the central zoo management for playing an important role in nurturing a harmonious relationship between humans and animals.

"We must focus on ending self-interest-driven behaviours and work, serve, make decisions, and implement these decisions effectively with honesty. The work of the zoo being built in Suryabinayak will progress effectively within a few weeks. The conservationists are anti-corruption, and now we should emphasise not only the state's role but also the partnership and collaboration of the community in the conservation campaign," Minister Chaulagain said.

He also praised the management of the zoo and expressed happiness for paying attention to its cleanliness.

"The human cost in tiger conservation should be reduced where it is more, and it is necessary to explore how an environment could be created in the system that easily allows rule-compliant work," the Minister for Forests and Environment added.

He emphasised that the Central Zoo should focus on preparing excellent standards for wildlife conservation and maintaining cleanliness in the expansion of the zoo.

Minister Chaulagain opined that the Gen Z revolt occurred due to inadequate work by state leaders in the past, insisting the promotion of good governance must take place in every government office and among leaders.

"We have focused on good governance and service delivery, emphasising citizen-friendly work; as long as we remain in the ministry, we will work with attention."

Mayor of Lalitpur Metropolitan City, Chiribabu Maharjan, said that all commitments made to the NTNC for the management of Central Zoo have been fulfilled and the metropolis has provided 1.5 million rupees for the conservation of the Royal Bengal Tiger under protection at the zoo.

He stated that the zoo is the pride of the Lalitpur Metropolitan City and that attention will be given to its promotion and expansion.

Mayor Maharjan expressed happiness that the NTNC was given the responsibility to manage the zoo for an additional 30 years.

Acting Chairman of the National Natural Resources and Fiscal Commission, Juddha Bahadur Gurung, expressed regret that the preparations and plans to develop the proposed Suryabinayak Zoo in Bhaktapur as an open zoo could not be implemented as intended.

He appreciated the work that the Central Zoo has been doing in rescuing animals in coordination with the Department of Wildlife Conservation and organizations working in the conservation sector.

Krishna Prasad Oli, former Chairman of the NTNC and Ambassador to China, emphasised the need to move forward by involving scholars and collaborating to make the Trust scientific and well-organised.

He drew Minister Chaulagain's attention to the fact that the ministry did not provide sufficient support to the NTNC for building a central zoo in Suryabinayak and stressed on coordination among all the related bodies for the same.

Dr Buddhi Sagar Paudel, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, emphasised that since the area of the central zoo was inadequate according to the sheer number of wildlife kept in the zoo, attention should be given to increasing its area and measures should be taken to manage and expand wildlife conservation in other places as well.

He urged for focusing on operating zoos across the country in coordination with the central zoo and in collaboration with national parks to contribute to wildlife conservation. Wishing that the central zoo develops as an institution owned by all the government agencies, he urged effective progress in the conservation of rare and endangered wildlife.

NTNC Member Secretary, Dr Naresh Subedi, expressed gratitude to the Government of Nepal for assigning an additional 30-year responsibility for the management of the Central Zoo, and stated that the Lalitpur Metropolitan City and Ward No. 4 have worked positively by adopting effective coordination and guardianship.

Khagendra Nepal, President of the 'Friends of Zoo Teacher Committee', congratulated on successfully completing a glorious journey of 30 years and stated that including the school as a symbol of conservation education will make a significant contribution to the conservation campaign. He informed that more than 127,450 students have been involved in the conservation campaign under the 'Friends of Zoo'.

The Head of the Central Zoo office, Satya Narayan Shrestha, stated that the contributions of seniors have enabled excellent management of the zoo and informed that the income here has been successfully used to manage expenses for two conservation areas in Nepal.

Individuals contributing to wildlife conservation such as Radhakrishna Shrestha, Sarita Gyawali, and Indraraj Bhattarai, employees making best contribution in conservation, and students creating outstanding stories, poems, and songs in the field of wildlife conservation were honoured and awarded on the occasion. (RSS)