Seized Tiger skin being measured by Park personnel. © WCN
Sensitization Program on tiger conservation for Nepal Police Personnel. © WCN
In 2010/11, The Rufford Foundation provided a grant of £25,000 to Wildlife Conservation Nepal (WCN).
Killing without Knowing- Protecting Endangered Wildlife Species in Nepal
This project aims to protect tigers and develop leadership in communities to enhance knowledge of tiger conservation. Since 2006, The Rufford Foundation has been supporting WCN to protect wild tigers by capacity building and monitoring illegal wildlife trade.
The long-term survival of tigers in the wild depends on effective policing and habitat maintenance. The depletion of tiger populations is directly related to anthropogenic activities arising from greed, retaliation for cattle killed and hunting prey species. Poaching, habitat degradation and declines in prey populations are key issues.
To counter the increasing rate of wildlife crime and poaching of tigers, WCN intends to map areas with high incidences of poaching and illegal wildlife trade. WCN will then initiate monitoring campaigns and disseminate knowledge on the importance of tiger protection and conservation in communities highly influenced by external forces that motivate people to poach endangered species. Such campaigns are well received if gender participation is on equal footing and poaching can be limited.
Effective monitoring has broken many networks of poachers and traders through the direct intervention of Nepal Police. WCN intelligence has led to many wildlife product seizures and arrests of persons associated with wildlife crime. This year alone, 26 traders and poachers have been brought to justice.
