GPS can lessen odds against rhino, tiger

KATHMANDU, June 24: Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation and National Trust for Nature Conservation along with WWF-Nepal have proposed to install GPS collaring on two endangered Royal Bengal Tigers and 40 rhinos in Chitwan National Park for scientific research and anti-poaching purposes.

Global Positioning System (GPS) is a space-based global navigation satellite system that provides reliable location and time information in all weather and at all times and anywhere on earth. Although it is maintained by the United States government, it is freely accessible by anyone with a GPS receiver. [break]

The agencies plan to fix GPS collaring on 38 additional one-horned rhinos, the species increasingly targeted by poachers over the years. At present, only two rhinos are equipped with the GPS.

“Since the total population representation sample is not enough in case of rhinos, we feel the number should be increased to 40 for more specific analysis and information collection,” Siddhartha Bajracharya of NTNC told myrepublica.com. “Sophisticated and latest GPS technology would prove beneficial for learning about rhino and tiger habitats, their food behaviors and movement.”

The concerned agencies plan to link the GPS with another technology called GIS (Global Information System). The amalgamation of the two is the latest MIST (Management of Information System Technology) technology used for intelligence gathering and movement tracking.

Sources have said that NTNC bought GIS system during the then royal regime for $10,000.

Director of WWF-Nepal Ghana Gurung said, “We are preparing to introduce MIST at the earliest for conservation purpose.” He further said that it will be implemented as soon as 12 officers from concerned agencies, along with three Nepal Army personnel, receive training from Thailand.

Nepal Army, on the other hand, has persuaded the government to equip more animals with GPS to make the tracking more effective.

“At least 400 rhinos and 200 tigers should be equipped with GPS so that poaching can be effectively curbed,” a highly-placed NA source said.

No increase in poaching: CNP

Meanwhile, the DNPWC and CNP have denied reports that the poaching of rhinos has increased in CNP.

Speaking to myrepublica.com, Chief Warden of CNP Narendraman Babu Pardhan, said, “Although we have not been able to stop poaching altogether, the actual number has not increased in comparison to the last six years.”

Pradhan said that 11 rhinos have succumbed in the hands of the poachers this fiscal year so far, while the number was 12 previous year.

“More deaths have been reported in four months starting from Chaitra to Asar,” Pradhan said, adding, “Going by the trend, we cannot say that poaching has crossed all limits this year.”