Just a decade ago, Mrigasthali Batika (Deer Park), the now barren forest, used to be an abundance of lush greenery spread across 90 ropanis until the PADT on a “positive intention” introduced two barking deer, 20 blackbucks and 10 spotted deer from the Central Zoo in Jawlakhel with support from National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) on November 19, 2004.[break]
The idea, as per Sushil Nahata, Member Secretary at PADT, was due to religious, folkloric and historical importance of the spot that was once home to deer, and thus the name “Mrigasthali” which literally translates to Deer Site.
Things have gone a little haywire since then as humans tried to play Nature. The current deer population stands at nearly 180. While the deer population as being healthy must be acknowledged, the overpopulation ticks disaster as the combo of drizzles and overgrazing has posed a serious threat to the UNESCO World Heritage Site.
“It’s been some nine years since the project started. The forest can sustain up to a maximum of 100 deer. But the deer population has increased and with it the issues,” says Nahata.
And the issues range from overgrazing, soil erosion, and as a chain reaction, a potential flash flood in the Bagmati River that flows by Nepal’s holiest Pashupatinath Temple, one of the four main Shiva Shrines of South Asia. Experience tells Nepal that when a disaster strikes, the scale of devastation can only be anticipated.
According to Akrur Singh Mahat, civil engineer for PADT, the first issue that they encountered with the overpopulation of deer was overgrazing which resulted in soil erosion. And the matter gets worse during the rainy season.
“Had it been a natural forest with other animals as well, the food chain would work, completing the entire cycle. But the deer park was created artificially and PADT initiated the project without doing proper study regarding deer management.”
And although PADT was aware of the issue three years back, Mahat says that there was no effort to address the issues due to lack of expert opinions and human resources. There are “plans” to formulate a plan to restore the forest with support of the Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) later this year but the issue hasn’t received much attention, considering the threat of the whole forest collapsing towards the Bagmati River.
“It was due to ignorance as well, because PADT initiated the project without thinking about the aftermaths,” adds Mahat. “Deer like Blackbucks are listed as endangered species, so we need proper expertise regarding their relocation and protection.”
There are currently 120 deer in the forest – 73 spotted deer, 30 blackbucks and 17 barking deer – at Mrigasthali Batika.
Gauri Shankar Parajuli, administrative officer at PADT, says that deer breed every six months and their continuous movement affects the forest environment.
The multiplying numbers of deer have not only marred the growth of new plants but they also scratch on the bark of the trees and feed on them, further causing destruction of the greenery of the forest.
“Due to the movement of the deer, the soil of the forest has gone weak as well. Also, when they push on the branches of the trees with their antlers, it furthermore deteriorates the condition of the trees,” says Parajuli.
The deer feed on a mixture of chickpeas, corn and soybeans and minerals which is provided by the PADT.
“The deer are supposed to feed from the forest itself but that’s not possible, which is why their resistance power has gone weak as well.”
Krishna Acharya, Director General of DNPWC, says that PADT should have its own veterinary doctor and monitor the food that is provided to the deer.
“It’s important to feed them grass as well. We’re planning on how we can improve the condition of the deer and the forest as well,” says Acharya.
The Central Veterinary Hospital has been providing regular checkups for the deer so far. Awadesh Jha, veterinarian at the hospital, says that the main issue is that as the population of the deer increases, and due to lack of proper space and food, their immunity power also grows weak, thus making them vulnerable to foot-and-mouth ailments (FMD) which are infectious and sometimes fatal viral diseases.
“I think that more than the deer affecting the environment, the issue is the outbreak of FMD diseases among the deer which they probably caught from animals like cows that live near the areas as they aren’t vaccinated. FMD diseases lead to secondary bacterial infection which easily spreads among the deer. So far, around 30 deer have died due to the disease. For now, we have somewhat taken the situation under control by treating the rest of them,” says Jha.
PADT has also been getting technical support from the Central Zoo in Jawalakhel as and when needed. Veterinary doctors come for regular checkups of the deer.
Narottam Vaidya, PADT Treasurer, says that they are working to renovate the forest and plan on dividing the area into three parts.
“In one part, we’ll be keeping the deer and in other sections we’ll be planting trees which will help in sustaining the forest and will help stop soil erosion as well,” he says. “The plan is to create green pastures for the deer where they will be relocated every six months alternately. The project also aims to make the park open to public in the near future.
“We brought the project with a positive intention but it hasn’t been easy to manage the deer in the forest. We’ve to manage their food and look after their health and the condition of the forests as well. We brought the project in a rush without thinking about the consequences. But we can still do something about it.”
PADT has allocated around Rs 20 million for the Mrigasthali restoration project and intends to complete it in the next fiscal year.
“The project was something new for us, so we had some pitfalls. But in the future, we plan to turn the area into a mini zoo.”
Photos: Keshab Thokar
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