वन तथा वातावरण
Sudurpashchim, October 1
Wildlife crime control is becoming increasingly effective in Sudurpashchim Province. According to data from the Ministry of Industry, Tourism, Forest, and Environment covering the past five fiscal years, wildlife-related offenses have significantly declined.
Data released by the ministry shows that 44 wildlife crime incidents were recorded in the province between Fiscal Year 2021/22 (2078/79 BS) and 2025/26 (2082/83 BS). These incidents led to 85 court cases and the arrest of 100 individuals.
Undersecretary Bhoj Raj Pathak, Information Officer at the ministry, reported that FY 2021/22 recorded 16 incidents, 32 cases, and 43 arrests. In FY 2022/23, the figures dropped to 14 incidents, 26 cases, and 29 arrests.
The downward trend continued in subsequent years: FY 2023/24 registered six incidents, 12 cases, and 11 arrests; FY 2024/25 recorded four incidents, seven cases, and five arrests; and FY 2025/26 recorded four incidents, eight cases, and 12 arrests.
“Wildlife crime incidents have consistently decreased year over year. This reflects the success of our interventions, though further efforts are required to make these measures even more robust,” Pathak stated.
Over the five-year period, Kanchanpur district registered the highest number of arrests at 44. Archives show 28 arrests in Kailali, 14 in Baitadi, four each in Bajhang and Doti, three in Dadeldhura, two in Darchula, and one in Achham. Bajura recorded zero wildlife crime incidents during this period.
Wild animals most targeted by criminal activities in the province include leopards, wild boars, Bengal tigers, pangolins, ghorals, spotted deer, and bears. Confiscated animal parts and products include leopard hides, deer meat, pangolin scales, wild boar meat, as well as skins and horns of wild pigs, ghorals, and thars.
Wildlife trafficking remains a global organized crime and a major threat to biodiversity. Stakeholders note that Nepal remains vulnerable both as a source and a transit country due to its geographic positioning.
However, Hemraj Bista, Head of the Sudurpashchim Provincial Forest Directorate, highlighted that organized wildlife crime networks in the province are weakening. “We maintain continuous surveillance to prevent illegal trade arising from human-wildlife conflict or poaching. These sustained efforts have broken down organized crime networks,” Bista remarked.
Control measures currently active across provincial and district levels include dedicated wildlife crime control mechanisms, cross-border coordination, camera trapping, smart patrolling, rescue equipment, and community-based conservation initiatives. To curb cross-border illegal trade, officials conduct regular meetings and information exchanges with counterpart agencies in India’s Pilibhit and Pithoragarh districts.
The ministry’s future strategy shifts priority from post-incident action to comprehensive risk identification, prevention, investigation, and prosecution. Key measures include mapping wildlife crime hotspots and transit routes, enhancing inter-agency intelligence sharing (among security forces, forest authorities, national parks, customs, and transport sectors), utilizing technology, and investigating financial transactions tied to criminal networks.
Laxmi Raj Joshi, Head of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) Shuklaphanta Conservation Program, attributed the success to joint efforts across all three tiers of government and partner organizations. He emphasized that managing human-wildlife conflict is now the primary challenge moving forward.
“Government conservation programs, investment in public awareness, and collaborative initiatives have yielded strong results in poaching control. The goal now is to move beyond enforcement and foster peaceful coexistence between humans and wildlife,” Joshi advised.
He recommended conserving movement corridors, connecting fragmented habitats, developing early warning systems near human settlements, creating alternative livelihood opportunities, and driving community behavior change.
The government continues to enforce the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act, the Forest Act, and relevant provincial forest legislation. Enhanced coordination among the Nepal Police, Nepali Army, and forest officials is maintained through the Wildlife Crime Control Order (2023).
Stakeholders stress that strengthening inter-agency and cross-border cooperation remains vital to completely eliminate wildlife poaching and illegal trade.
