A 15 km wall is being constructed along the buffer zone between Chitwan National Park (CNP) and five community forests as a measure to reduce human-wildlife conflict.

Mirgakunja, Kerunga, Janakauli, Baghmara and Tikauli community forests, which are situated at the CNP buffer zone, are witnessing increasing number of wildlife incursions in the recent years.

Basu Dhungana, the chairman of Mirgakunja Community Forest Consumers’ Group, said they decided to build the wall as the people in the area, who depend on community forests for firewood and fodder, were at risk of getting attacked by wild animals.

In the past nine months of the current fiscal year, eight people have been killed in wild animal attacks.

The boundary between the CNP and the buffer zone were separated by barbed wire fence in the past, which did not deter animals from entering the community forests and the nearby villages.

Dhungana said they were building a concrete wall this time.

The project is expected to cost around Rs 100 million.

A  budget has been set aside from the development fund that the CNP has been providing to the Buffer Zone Consumers’ Group.