4th National Conservation Day highlights conservation of Nepal's rhinos

Rhino conservation and a call to stop illegal wildlife trade were at the centre of the celebrations of the 4th National Conservation Day organized Sunday under the leadership of the Government of Nepal.

To coincide with the International Year of the Rhino, the theme for this year's event was 'Stop the Trade: Save the Rhino' in order to highlight the immediate threats to rhinos in Nepal and the need to take collective action to combat poaching and illegal wildlife trade to protect this magnificent species.

Minister for Forests and Soil Conservation Yadu Bansha Jha was the Chief Guest of the event which was chaired by Dr. Krishna Chandra Paudel, Secretary of the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation. Chief Secretary Lilamani Poudel and popular Nepal film actor Rajesh Hamal, who is also the goodwill ambassador of WWF Nepal were other special guests of the event.

Speaking at the event, Minister Jha stated that the Government of Nepal was committed to escalating its efforts in building a better future for rhinos.

"National institutions such as the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, improved security and protection measures in the national parks, enhanced trans-boundary and regional cooperation, and effective partnerships with conservation agencies and local communities form the primary pillars in putting a stop to wildlife crimes in Nepal," he added.

On this occasion, WWF Nepal also felicitated three exemplary organizations and five individuals who excelled in biodiversity conservation in Nepal through the Abraham Conservation Awards, WWF Media in Conservation Award and a Special Conservation Award. Similarly, six students were provided scholarships under the Chandra Gurung Memorial Scholarship, Jill Bowling Schlaepfer Memorial Scholarship and Jennifer Headley Memorial Scholarships to help them pursue higher education in forestry.

"For the past 17 years, the Abraham Conservation Awards have helped honor the larger-than-life contributions made by organizations and individuals in conservation," stated Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF Nepal.

"Through these awards, we look forward to creating a unique synergy of efforts, starting from the grassroots level, to help Nepal achieve its conservation goals," he added.

Bird Conservation Nepal also provided its Jatayu Scholarship to two individuals to pursue research on vulture conservation in Nepal.

At the event, special performances were organized by girls from the Gyan Shikha Friends of Zoo Club and students from Shuva Tara School under Wildlife Conservation Nepal's Nepal Prakrity Pathshala program. Nepalnews.com