KATHMANDU: The Nepali Army has deployed 9,046 personnel across 12 national parks, one wildlife reserve, and one hunting reserve to ensure protection and conservation of forests and wildlife, according to Manoj Thapa, Director of Military Operations.
Eight army battalions, two forest and environmental protection units, and seven independent teams have been assigned responsibility for safeguarding these areas.
Thapa said that during the current fiscal year, army personnel have seized 42 illegal firearms, 1,976 traps and nets, 1,965 handmade tools, 335 vehicles, and 16 trophies from various national parks and wildlife reserves.
The army’s consistent conservation efforts over the past 15 years have led to a remarkable increase in wildlife populations. According to the latest count, Nepal now has 355 tigers and 752 rhinos, compared to 121 tigers in 2009 and 400 rhinos in 2005.
During these operations, 116 army personnel lost their lives due to wildlife attacks and other causes. In the current fiscal year alone, five soldiers were seriously injured in incidents involving wild animals, the Army’s Directorate of Public Relations and Information reported.
In addition to wildlife protection, the Nepali Army has been conducting annual mountain cleaning campaigns for over a decade to preserve the beauty of Nepal’s Himalayan landscapes.
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