Kathmandu: The Nepali Army has deployed a significant force of 9,046 personnel dedicated to nature conservation across the country. These personnel have been stationed in 12 national parks, one wildlife reserve, and one hunting reserve as part of a comprehensive strategy to protect Nepal’s natural heritage.
According to National News Agency Nepal, the Director of Operations, Manoj Thapa, emphasized the scale of the operation, which involves eight battalions, two forest and environmental protection battalions, and seven independent companies. This deployment highlights the commitment of the Nepali Army to safeguarding the nation’s wildlife and natural reserves, including the Chure region declared by the Government of Nepal.
Director Thapa reported that during the current fiscal year, the army has confiscated 42 various types of guns, 1,976 nets and traps, 1,965 domestic weapons, 335 vehicles, and 16 hunting trophies from different national parks and wildlife reserves. These efforts have contributed to a notable increase in the populations of tigers and rhinos over the past 15 years.
The latest census data indicates a rise in the number of tigers and rhinos, with the current figures standing at 355 tigers and 752 rhinos. This is a marked improvement from the 2009 tiger census, which recorded 121 individuals, and the 2005 rhino census, which reported 400 individuals.
However, the conservation efforts have not been without cost. The Army has reported that 116 military personnel lost their lives due to wild animal attacks and other incidents while carrying out their duties. In the current fiscal year alone, five army personnel have been seriously injured in similar attacks, as stated by the Directorate of Army Public Relations and Information.
The Nepali Army has also been actively involved in annual mountain cleaning campaigns for the past decade, contributing to the preservation of Nepal’s majestic mountains.