The United Club of Pokhara has provided a financial assistance of Rs 1.1 million to a wildlife rescue centre set up inside the compound of the proposed Pokhara International Zoo in Pachabhaiya, Pokhara Lekhnath metropolis.

The main objective of the centre is to rescue injured and sick animals, provide them treatment and release them back to their habitats.

The financial assistance was provided on the seventh anniversary of the Club.

Himalaya Bakhrel, the coordinator of Pokhara International Zoo Construction Committee, said that the centre is planning to administer treatment to an injured wild elephant and release it to its shelter.

The Club has been providing 20 percent of the money raised from the Pokhara street festival yearly.

“We allocate 20 percent of the money raised from the festival to the rescue centre,” said Suk Bahadur Gurung, Chairman of the Club.

Dipendra Shrestha, Chairman of the Federation of Nepali Journalists Kaski Chapter, amid a function handed over the money to the officials of rescue centre. 

The proposed zoo, which is being constructed by the Club, covers 134 hectares of forestland of Pachabhaiya, Chainpur and Chayapani Chisakuna Community Forests.

"Animals also have the rights to receive treatment like human beings,” said Panchabhaiya Community Forest Chairman Mohan Ghimire, adding, “The government should provide full assistance.”

Laxmi Prasad Tripathi, Chairman of the Lekhnath Banijaya Sangh, lauded the role of the Club.

Injured Himalayan griffon released after treatment

A rare Himalayan griffon, also known as Himalayan vulture, which was found injured a month ago, was released after treatment on Thursday.

The vulture was released on the occasion of the United Club of Pokhara’s seventh anniversary.

The rare bird, which was found injured on a road at Kimbesi in Lekhnath Municipality, was taken to the rescue centre with the help of locals.

The centre has now two pythons, two deers, a Nilgai (blue bull), a wild cat, three eagles, two vultures, two monkeys, two rabbits, two rats, two Eurasian eagle owls commonly known as Huchil and four owls rescued from different places.