An Environmental Watchdog Newsletter

June 22-30, 2013

No. 258

Editorial Team Reshu Bashyal & Rasna Sainju

For the 258 issue, we reviewed 50 news reports from 16 sources and selected 19 happening in four countries. This week Conservation Ethics of conservationists in Nepal is in big question. It was revealed that the widely celebrated Zero Rhino Poaching Year, 2011 was merely a propaganda event, while the killer tusker Dhurbe was shot 68 bullets but has been missing, possibly injured. In other parts of Himalaya, results of flood havoc are coming from India, while China brings the good news of conservation of Tibetan Antelope. Also, please fill out our reader survey (Ctrl + Click following link), if you have not filled it yet. It is anonymous and takes only about 5-10 minutes. Thank you! https://docs.google.com/forms/d/1I-684bAfbcqnt1opD1vmpX6ZmoXM32xFilwb_oZdBGQ/edit?usp=drive_web NEPAL Where is Conservation Ethics? Silk Thread in Every House! 5 Big Cats in Banke NP Paddy Output Falls Where has Dhurbe gone? Viral Fever Outbreak Flood Havoc In Indian Himalaya Pest-attack Result Conservation Efforts Measles in Children

INDIA

BHUTAN CHINA PAKISTAN

Nepal-Himalaya
WHERE IS CONSERVATION ETHICS? Nepal celebrated the year 2011 as the Zero Poaching Year. But it is now understood that the year was actually not the year of zero poaching. Eight smugglers are now facing jail sentences for slaughtering Rhinos and some have confessed to killing Rhino in 2011. It is said that Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) hid the incidence of rhino killed in February 21, 2011. NPR 5 million was spent in the celebration of the Zero Poaching Year. June 23 http://nagariknews.com/feature-article/story/3154

SILK THREAD IN EVERY HOUSE!

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District level small scale industries committee, Nuwakot started a scheme of providing machine to the silk farmers before as a result the whole village has benefitted from flourishing silk thread production. The villagers who were compelled to sell the cocoon at lower prices earlier are now earning a lot by selling silk thread. Till date 40 farmers of Deurali VDC are engaged in sericulture. June 24 http://www.newsofnepal.com/newsdetail.php?id=73621 5 BIG CAT IN BANKE NATIONAL PARK The first Tiger Count in Banke National Park has recorded a total of 5 Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris tigris). 32 technicians were deployed for the camera trap. The count also provided evidence for 200 four-horned antelopes (Tetracerus quadricornis) and other prey species. The National Park was declared three years ago with the aim of doubling Nepals tiger population by 2022 AD. June 27 http://www.ekantipur.com/np/2070/3/10/full-story/370710.html PADDY OUTPUT FALLS Nepal is compelled to earmark huge sum of money to import rice, as paddy output failed. In the first 10 months of the current fiscal year, Nepal imported rice worth of NPR 11.60 billion from the global market. The Ministry of Agriculture Development has estimated that Nepal will face a shortage of 900,000 tons of rice this year. June 27 http://www.ekantipur.com/2013/06/26/business/drop-in-output-forces-nepal-to-import-rice-worth-rs11b/373879.html WHERE HAS DHURBE GONE? It has been revealed that 68 rounds of bullet were shot at Dhurbe, the elephant which killed 15 people till last December in Chitwan, Central Nepal. But the big surprise is it hasnt been found afterwards, neither alive nor its dead body. The conservationists are assuming that the elephant is inside the National Park in injured condition. About NPR 1.6 million was spent to control the deadly tusker. Meanwhile, another case of tusker attack has come from Lalbandi VDC of Sarlahi district, Central Nepal, killing one woman and critically injuring the other. The incident took place near the house of the deceased woman while she was on her way back from a community forest. June 29, 30 http://www.nagariknews.com/feature-article/story/3501 http://www.ekantipur.com/2013/06/29/top-story/wild-elephant-rampage-kills-one/374043.html

India-Himalaya
VIRAL FEVER OUTBREAK With rising temperature, cases of viral fever are rising rapidly in Pub-Kamrup area in Assam with symptoms of excessive fever, vomiting, cold and cough etc. However, there is widespread concern about Governments lackadaisical approach in supplying necessary medicines to the health centers. June 23 http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/detailsnew.asp?id=jun2413/state07

FLOOD HAVOC IN INDIAN HIMALAYA

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According to the latest report, monsoon rain in Indian Himalaya has killed 5,000 people and stranded more than 19,000 people in the northern states of Uttarakhand and Himachal Pradesh. The torrents washed away more than 300 multi-story buildings. Also at least 10 hydroelectric power projects have been damaged in the region due to heavy silt and debris. Since 15 June, 80,000 people have been evacuated as heavy rains hit during the peak tourist season. Meanwhile, Assam witnessed worst situation of flood affecting over 50,000 people inundating 35 villages in Dhemaji district. 23-30 June Times of India, Assam Tribune, Engineering News-Record

Bhutan-Himalaya
PEST-ATTACK RESULT The armyworm infestation has left many paddy fields bare Nubi gewog, Trongsa. Farmers are now compelled to seek for alternative crops. June 27 http://www.kuenselonline.com/the-fallow-paddy-fields-of-nubi-gewog/#.Uc0oizswfa8

China Himalaya
CONSERVATION EFFORTS Qiangtang National Nature Reserve in the Northern Tibetan Plateau has been good habitat for the Tibetan antelope which live between 4000 to 6000 meters above sea level. It is said that before the establishment of the nature reserve, there were only 50-70,000 of antelopes in Tibet. Now the number has risen to nearly 200,000. Besides Tibetan antelope, the reserve is good habitat for Tibetan wild yaks, wild donkeys, and hundreds of species of birds. June 30 http://english.peopledaily.com.cn/90882/8304926.html

Pakistan-Himalaya
MEASLES IN CHILDREN From January to June about 1,000 children have been reported infected with measles in three allied hospitals of Rawalpindi. 60% of them were discharged after medication while remaining 40% are kept under quarantine. June 26 http://www.dailytimes.com.pk/default.asp?page=2013\06\26\story_26-6-2013_pg11_3

SUPPORT FOR HEADLINES HIMALAYA This week Dr. Pasang Yangjee Sherpa, a doctorate in Anthropology from Washington State University, has contributed NPR 30,000 to EGH for the continued publication of the Headlines Himalaya. Please join us to say THANK YOU to Dr. Sherpa for her gracious support. The support is a big motivation for our young graduates, who have been volunteering to inform the world about Himalayan environment. Any support to HH is welcome.

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