Technically Effective wildlife Defense System

To abet in effective control mechanism against rising poaching of wildlife animals and other illegal activities at several reserves and national parks, Nepal Army has projected a high-level Wildlife Crime Control Bureau with prime minister as the chairman and forest minister, chiefs of security agencies and secretaries at home, defense and forest ministries as members.

The Nepal army, which has been assigned with Nepal’s National park security, is also set to introduce a highly-technical ´smart patrolling´ in 11 preserve zones through the use of Global Positioning System (GPS) and other equipment and to form a Professional Jungle Formation (PJF) force within three months.

As per the proposal included in the reviewed SOP (Standard Operating Procedures) to be endorsed by the cabinet soon, the Nepal Army would be allowed to walk the beat inside the preserve zone areas where poaching is highest. The Nepal Army intends to intensify the intelligence and lead operations in he most dangerous poaching sites with these “small team operations” initially.

A Nepal Army official said “since GPS is a database system, we will no longer have to depend on traditional verbal method to detect poaching sites. Our presence will have a good psychological impact on the entire network of illegitimate dealers, so we believe that along with the local support to us, poaching will be controlled even at least by 50 percent at the preparatory period.

GPS is a radio-navigation system that provides reliable positioning, navigation and timing services to the users. It provides accurate location and time information for an unlimited number of people round the clock.

The PJF, alternatively, would be a professional force trained exclusively for jungle duties. The Nepal Army addressed, “The PJF will assume protection duties rather than being a multi-role infantry like in the past. This is in our priority and is currently under consideration. The PJF will have 10-12 personnel and will function in coordination with the warden office of the parks.” The Nepal Army Source further said, “For this, the NA is also looking at making the commanders more accountable. To bring positive change, the Nepal Army will put in place a mechanism to replace the unit itself if found to be either weak in operation or taking part in any other negligence. The proposed agency, on the other hand, is planned to have a monitoring role, which is perceived to be crucial for reduction in regional network of this crime.

“Ever since Nepal is a member of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES), it has to ensure accomplishment of relevant laws against the poaching crime,” Dr Ravi Aryal, a CITES expert, said. He further added that since CITES in itself has authority only on trans-national trading, it will be appropriate to have such a bureau in the country in line with the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau of India. He added that a “regional agreement” like the Lusaka Agreement of the African nations is also “a must” in South Asia now. Although Nepal is considered not among the top countries involved in the wildlife trade rumpus, Nepal is a route for storing, shipping and transmit of illegal animal parts.

Shiva Raj Bhatta, the spokesperson for the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, said pointing at the delay in passing the CITES draft since it was drafted in 2000, “”Both the setting up of a high-level mechanism and passing of the CITIES draft is now crucial,”

Five battalions and seven independent companies (a total of 5,900 army personnel) are currently deployed at 93 army posts in various national parks.

Incidents of wildlife trafficking are rife due to the absence of effective security mechanism to discourage traffickers and poachers in the national