Minister directs for effective works to resolve human-wildlife conflict

Kathmandu, Jan 19: Minister for Forest and Environment, Madhav Prasad Chaulagain, said the human-wildlife conflict had emerged as a serious threat, so effective measures are expected from the related officials. Reduction of human-tiger conflict is urgent, he stressed.

Addressing a high level discussion organized on 'human-wildlife conflict and measures to resolve the problems' in the federal capital on Sunday, Minister Chaulagain directed the officials to work with utmost coordination that ensures achievement of expected results. 

"The people in the vicinity of forest are lodging more and more complaints. So, only traditional way is not enough to tackle problems," he said, wondering, "Why don't we devote to the way that guarantees results and mitigates conflict between human and wildlife?" 

On the occasion, Director General at the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Department, Dr Buddhi Sagar Paudel, made a presentation on the efforts the government had made so far to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict. The suggestions furnished in the programme would be taken into account for additional measures to this front, he added.

Dean at Central Department of Botany, TU, Dr Thakur Silwal, suggested the government that the problems emerged on food system of wild animals should be addressed to resolve the human-wildlife conflict. The compulsion for the locals to go to forests for managing their livelihoods must be ended. A new law for hunting can also be a new measure, Silwal added.

Member Secretary at the National Nature Conservation Trust, Dr Naresh Subedi, informed that the Trust was working in collaboration with government bodies to resolve the conflict between human and wildlife.

Country Representative of the World Wildlife Fund, Dr Ghanashyam Gurung, viewed as wildlife is the foundation of ecotourism in Nepal, wildlife should not be taken as a problem. Rather, it should be managed well. 

A local from buffer zone of Bardiya district, Nischal Neupane, expressed worry over increasing number of tiger attacks, preying humans in Bardiya area for lack of government's slow response.  (RSS)