Conservationists cautioned that though Nepal’s efforts to control poaching of tigers and rhinos has yielded positive results, the existence of these wildlife and their body parts that carries high-market value is under severe threat due to ever-expanding market of illegal wildlife trade beyond the national boundary.

Nepal has achieved global recognition for its conservation efforts by celebrating ‘zero poaching years’ in 2011 and 2013 respectively, which meant not a single rhino or tiger, both endangered species, were killed by the poachers.

Addressing the inaugural ceremony of the first ever five-day international symposium on zero poaching on Monday, Minister for Forests and Soil-Conservation Mahesh Acharya said poaching of wildlife “is mainly done for money and profit making”.

Rare species of wildlife and their body parts are considered as high value commodity in the international market.

“Our efforts should now focus towards controlling the illegal wildlife trade, break the network of poachers and implement stringent law enforcement strategies to protect our wildlife,” he said.

It needs tremendous financial resources, modern technology and participatory approach involving local communities to protect wildlife, added Minister Acharya.

“We need to share and learn the best practices among each others to work towards protecting the rare and endangered wildlife species at global level.”  

Celebrating Nepal government’s along with conservation partners’ efforts towards successful years in rhino and tiger conservation, the representatives from 13-tiger-range countries across the globe are attending the symposium being held in Kathmandu from Monday. It is estimated that the wild tiger population along the 13-tiger range countries is between 3,200 and 3,500, including 198 in Nepal.

Anil Manandhar, country representative for WWF Nepal, said that though some tiger-range countries such as Nepal are successful in minimising poaching in the recent years, but “we have not been successful in decreasing the demands where they are used.”

“Now, it is time to work collectively and in an collaborative approach to bring both poaching and market demand to zero level. When there is demand, poaching will continue,” he added.