Bio-Diversity

Nepal's students are leading a unique and impactful conservation campaign to protect owls, a species crucial to maintaining ecological balance. This initiative, launched in Gandaki Province, aims to transform harmful practices into responsible actions. A study conducted a few years ago revealed that students often used slingshots, plucked owl eggs, and caused distress to owls. To address these issues, the campaign was initiated with support from the Whitley Fund for Nature Award, received by conservationist Raju Acharya. Since its launch,… Read More...

Researchers have successfully tracked an Egyptian vulture’s 200-kilometer journey from Pokhara to Ayodhya, India, using satellite technology. Few months ago, they started a satellite tagging project to track the migration, behavior and threats faced by the endangered Egyptian vulture. As part of the study, satellite tags were attached to five Egyptian vultures in Pokhara. Among them, a two-year-old vulture stayed in Ayodhya for about a week before flying back.  The study aims to identify challenges faced by vultures and their… Read More...

Local residents in Mustang have long relied on collecting firewood during the winter, a practice that has been followed for centuries. Mustang, divided into upper and lower regions, is home to 16 Conservation Area Management Committees (CMCs) operating under the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP). Among these, 10 CMCs, covering areas from Waragung Muktikshetra to the lower Mustang, organize annual firewood collection during winter. The committees, in coordination with ACAP Jomsom, implement time-specific schedules for collecting firewood from designated forests.… Read More...

A training program is underway in Gandaki Province to help protect owls, which are crucial for controlling rodent populations and safeguarding crops. The program targets security personnel, Division Forest Office staff, community forest representatives, local political leaders and local youth. The training focuses on preventing the illegal trade and hunting of owls. Participants learn about the importance of owls, cultural beliefs that drive their illegal trade, and techniques for rescue and release. Sessions also cover the necessary actions outlined in… Read More...

injum Sherpa is intimately connected to the high Himalayan landscape in north-east Nepal that she calls home. While she looks after a herd of yaks, her adult children work as climbing guides on peaks including Mount Everest. Despite this, Kinjum does not seem to know of the looming disaster facing Naa, the village she lives in.  Just four kilometres – or a two-hour walk – upstream of Naa is the rapidly expanding Tsho Rolpa glacial lake. Situated 4,545 metres above… Read More...

Visitors from all over the world are attracted to Pokhara for its stunning mountain views and its relaxed lakeside life. But very few know about Pokhara’s vibrant nightlife: its fireflies. However, this July 4 on International Firefly Day just like last year, there will not be many to venture out beyond the city lights to admire the lakeside come alive with these glowing insects. “Pokhara could benefit from promoting firefly tourism just like in Japan, Taiwan and Malaysia have,” says conservationist… Read More...

Many ponds having cultural and ecological significance have dried up, and many more are on the verge of extinction due to human encroachment in Pokhara. “Cattle and birds would drink from these ponds. Buffalo would cool off in the mud. At night, jackals and other wildlife would drink from the ponds,” Gangadhar Timilsina (81) of Pokhara-7 recalled. “Times have changed. Such sights have become a thing of the past in Pokhara’s urban areas.” There used to be a pond and… Read More...

As modern housing developments expand, many owls have been displaced due to the lack of suitable nesting sites. Older houses once provided nesting spaces for owls and other birds, but as these structures have been replaced, the owls have migrated elsewhere. To address this issue, Friends of Nature (FON) is constructing 100 artificial wooden nests, designed to last up to 10 years, to support owl conservation in Kaski and Syangja districts.  This initiative marks the first of its kind in… Read More...