Moriarty calls for protection of rhinos
The United States Ambassador to Nepal James F. Moriarty has called on the Nepali and international community to join together to protect the endangered rhinoceros population.
Talking to journalists in Sauraha of Chitwan, the US envoy, who is visiting the district to explore the issue of rhino poaching and meet with officials and environmentalists, said more must be done to protect the rhinos, whose numbers have declined dramatically in recent years because of criminal poaching.
“In the last five years alone, 106 rhinos were poached from Chitwan National Park and surrounding areas. Nepal and the international community must work together to protect these rhinos from poaching, and help ensure their survival,” the US envoy said.
A press statement issued by the US information center said, during his stay, he will be briefed on the Terai Landscape Arc (TAL) Project, supported by USAID, the US government’s humanitarian assistance and development agency, and the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) Nepal Program, which seeks to create a single landscape of 49,500 square kilometers by connecting 11 protected areas in Nepal and India.
“Future generations of Nepalis – and large numbers of environmental tourists – will thank Nepal and its international partners if we join together now to effectively protect and nurture these magnificent creatures,” Moriarty added. nepalnews.com pb Feb 15 07
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