Category Archives: News Updates

King Cobra (Ophiophagus hannah) rescued by Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) and brought to Dhanushadham Protected Forest (DPF)

August 18, 2017 Dev Narayan Mandal

Dhanushadham, 2074/05/01 – Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) rescued a King Cobra from the house of Man Bahadur Baniya R/o Karjanha Municipality, Ward No.-2, Siraha district of Nepal. Weighting 3 Kg 345 Gm and 9ft 3 Inch long.

Family member of Mr. Baniya

The family members of Mr. Baniya had noticed the snake entering inside house on 2074/04/31 BS but they didn’t bother of it thinking that it will move away in the night. But when his daughter in low went to clean the house early morning on 32nd Shrawan 2074, she saw the snake resting behind gate and it moved under gap area of the roof when it was disturbed by them. They waited it to move away, but at afternoon they informed their neighbors for the existence of a snake inside house. Soon, neighbors gathered numbering around 20-25 to kill the snake. Everybody was trying to kill it, when one of the neighbors shouted that this is the same snake preserved by MWT in Dhanushadham Protected Forest (DPF) and he requested everybody to save this snake. Then, they informed Ilaka Police Office, Bandipur and the police official informed to District Forest Office, Siraha via Ilaka Forest Office, Bandipur. And massage was passed to MWT for the rescued via Shankar Narayan Jha who is Assistant Forest Office posted at DPF.

Roof where King Cobra was hiding for the whole day

Mr. Dev Narayan Mandal, Chairman, MWT rushed to the spot with Lalit Yadav, Forest Guard at DPF for the rescue where he found that police officials had managed to lock the windows and gate of the room and protect the snake from crowd. The snake was rescued successfully by our chairman and was transported to DPF at evening.

The room where King Cobra was locked untill rescue by MWT Nepal

King Cobra inside a locked room before rescue

Scientific name of the snake is Ophiophagus hannah, weight is 3Kg 345 Gm and the length is measured to be 9Ft 3 Inch (measured next day in DPF). As small wound is there on the outer skin of the snake, necessary treatment has been given and will be released back in the same range or will be decided according to the suggestion of District Forest Officer.

Till date, MWT has rescued 4 King Cobras from human settlements of the same range covering approx. 200SqrMtr. 3 more King Cobras have been recorded but the regular awareness programmes has made it to live them in their natural habitat without rescue or translocation.

Rescued King Cobra inside wooden rescue box

The measure threats of these snakes are unmanaged human settlements and habitat loss inside Shivalik Chure range of Nepal.

We heartily thank the residence of the area, the members of Ilaka Police Office & Ilaka Forest Office, Bandipur for the co-operation and support to save this speechless creature. We would also like to request for possible support from helping hands to organize several awareness programmes in the area where nice population of King Cobra is recorded in Nepal.

The lovely face of rescued King Cobra

Blog, News Updates

धनुषा जिल्लाको अन्दुपट्टि कटरैत गा.वि.स. मा गाऊँले द्वारा एउटा भाले चितुवा मारियो

April 29, 2017 Dev Narayan Mandal

यस घटनाको वास्तविक अबस्था र यसले उब्जाएका केही प्रश्नहरुः

 यस चितुवालाई बँचाउन सकिने सम्भावना कति थियो ?
 के यस चितुवालाई मार्नै पर्ने आवश्यक थियो ?
 यस घटनाका जिम्मेवार को ?
 किन पस्छन चितुवा मानवीय वसोवास क्षेत्रमा ?
 यसका स्थाई समाधान के त ?

पहिले घटनाको वास्तुगत विवरण हेरौँ ।
धनुषा जिल्लाको साविक अन्दुपट्टि कटरैत गा.वि.स.को वार्ड नं.–७ हाल जनकपुर उप–महानगरपालिकाको वार्ड नं.–१७ मा मिती २०७४ साल ०१ महिना १३ गते वेलुका ६ः३० बजे करिब २५० जनाको हाराहारीमा जम्मा भएका गाऊँलेहरुले एउटा भाले चितुवालाई मारे ।

बेलुका ५ः१५ बजे तिर रामपुरवाली भनेर चिनिने कटरैत टावर टोल निवासी गीता देवी मुखिया आफ्नो खेत जहाँ कांक्रो र मकैको खेती गरिएको छ मा गएकि थिईन । कांक्रो भएको क्षेत्रमै रहेको बेला चितुवाले उनलाई आक्रमण गरे र फेरी मकैमा फर्के । उनी चिल्लाऊँदै भागिन र नजिकै काम गरिरहेका अन्य गाऊँलेहरुलाई भनिन । बँदेल र निलगाईको संख्या अली बढी नै रहेको सो क्षेत्रमा पहिले त गाऊँलेहरुले पत्याएनन तर उनको जिद्द पछि केही जना नजिकै हेर्नका लागि गए र चितुवाले फेरी उनीहरुमाथी आक्रमण गरे । यतिकैमा गाऊँ नजिकै रहेको सो चौरीमा वाघ आयो भनेर भागमभाग भईसकेको थियो । सबै जनाले गाऊँलेहरुलाई बोलाउन थाले र ६ः०० बजे तिर लगभग २५० जनाको हाराहारीमा गाऊँलेहरु जम्मा भए र चितुवा रहेको मकै खेतलाई चारै तिर बाट घेरा हाले । यस क्रममा चितुवाले अन्यलाई पनि हात, पाखुरा, पेट, खुट्टा आदीमा आक्रमण गर्न थाले र गीता देवी मुखिया, प्रमेश्वर यादव, सञ्जिव कुमार साह, तिलेश्वर मुखिया र पञ्चु मुखिया गरि कुल ५ जना घाईते भए । घाईते मध्ये सब भन्दा बढी आँटिलो प्रमेश्वर यादवलाई बढी घाउ लागेको छ । चितुवाले प्रमेश्वरको टाउकोमाथी आक्रमण गर्न खोज्दा प्रमेश्वर चितुवाको अगाडीको दुबै खुट्टा समाती हाल्थे । यसै बिच प्रमेश्वर जमीनमा लडे र चितुवा माथीबाट उसको टाउकोमै आक्रमण गरीरहेका थिए । यतिकैमा गाऊँलेहरुले चितुवा माथी लठ्ठी बर्साउन थाले र टाउकोमा चोट लागी चितुवा ६ः३० बजे तिर मरे ।

बेलुका ५ः१५ बजे देखिएको लम्बाई–४२ ईण्च, पुच्छरको लम्बाई–३० ईण्च, शरिरको ऊँचाई–२४ ईण्च र वजन–४५ किलो ग्राम भएको सो चितुवाको जिवन अन्तत ६ः३० बजे समाप्त भयो ।

अब प्रश्नहरु तिर लागौँ ।

यस चितुवालाई बँचाउन सकिने सम्भावना कति थियो ?
चितुवालाई मारेर घाईतेहरुलाई अञ्चल अस्पताल लगिसके पछि मात्रै प्रशासनलाई चितुवा मरेको खबर दिईयो, त्यस पछि प्रशासनले वनलाई र वनले मिथिला वाईल्डलाईफ ट्रष्टलाई । खबर गरिएको १ घण्टा भित्रै नेपाल प्रहरी, वन कार्यालय र हामी त्यहाँ पुगिसकेका थियौँ ।

यहाँ ध्यान दिनुपर्ने कुरा के हो भन्ने जून ४० देखि ५० मिनट गाऊँलेहरु संगठित हुन खर्च गरे र लगभग १ घण्टा लगाएर चितुवालाई मारे त्यति समय पर्याप्त थियो हामी त्यहाँ पुग्नलाई तर दुर्भाग्य चितुवालाई मारी सके पछि मात्रै हामीलाई खबर गरियो ।

के यस चितुवालाई मार्नै पर्ने आवश्यक थियो ?
आक्रमण गरे पछि महिला पनि भागीसकेकी थिईन र चितुवा पनि मकै खेतीमा लुकिसकेका थिए । चितुवाले लखेटेर होईन की चारै तिर बाट घेरेर चितुवालाई मार्ने क्रममा मात्रै अन्य आक्रमणमा परे । यसरी हेर्दा चितुवालाई मारी नै हाल्नुपर्ने कुनै बिशेष आवश्यकता देखिएन ।

यस घटनाका जिम्मेवार को ?
हामीलाई समयमा किन खबर गरिएन भनेर प्रश्न गर्दा समुदायबाट केही गम्भिर प्रतिप्रश्नहरु गरिए । तपाईंहरुसँग चितुवा उद्धार गर्न पर्याप्त श्रोत साधनहरु उपलब्ध छन् ? श्रोत साधन भए पनि के चाँडै पुग्न सक्ने सडक सुविधा छन् त यहाँ ? तपाईंहरु यसलाई उद्धार गर्न सक्नुहत्थ्यो भने विश्वासको आधार के ?
हुन त शुरुवाती अबस्थामै रहेकोले हामी सँग पनि पर्याप्त श्रोत साधनको अभाब छन् तर पनि प्रशासन, वन कार्यालय र समुदायको सहयोगमा यसलाई बँचाउन सकिन्थ्यो । धनुषा जिल्लाका अधिकांश गाऊँमा बर्षायाममा मोटरसाईकल लिएर पनि पुग्न असम्भव हुन्छ तर अहिलेको अबस्थामा जति समय लगाएर चितुवालाई मारियो त्यस भन्दा कम समयमै सजिलै पुग्न सकिन्थ्यो । हामीले विगत ४ बर्ष देखि सर्प, कछुवा, सुनगोहोरो र निलगाई जस्ता जंगली जनावरहरुको उद्धार गर्दै आईरहेका छौँ । अलि अपठ्यारो हुने देखिए पनि कम से कम यस चितुवा लाई बँचाउने प्रयास त गर्न सकिन्थ्यो ।

हुन त यस्ता घटनाहरुको प्रमुख जिम्मेवार संकिर्ण मानसिकता भएका हाम्रा निति निर्माताहरु हुन । राष्ट्रिय निकुञ्ज तथा वन्यजन्तु संरक्षण विभागले संरक्षित क्षेत्र वाहिरका संरक्षित र अति दुर्लभ वन्यजन्तुको संरक्षणमा पनि कुनै चासो नै राख्दैनन् । वन विभाग हामी सँग कुनै श्रोत साधन नभएको, बजेट नभएको, स्विकृति लिन गाह्रो हुने आदी आदी ढिपी कसेर बस्छन, केही एन.जि.ओ.÷आई.एन.जि.ओ. हरु चासो लिए पनि संरक्षित क्षेत्र वाहिर उनीहरुको पनि पहुँच न्यून छन् । यसरी हेर्दा वार्षिक रुपमा करोडौ खर्च गरे तापनि सतही रुपमा आफ्ना पहुँच सुनिश्चित गर्न नसकेकोले यस्ता घटनाको जिम्मेबारी सम्पूर्ण पक्षले लिनै पर्छ ।

नेपाल सरकार द्वारा सुनियोजित तरिकाले चुरे विनास गरि राजनितिक स्वार्थ पूर्तिका निम्ति मानव वस्ति बसाल्नु पनि यस घटनाको प्रमुख कारण हुन सक्छ ।

किन पस्छन चितुवा मानवीय वसोवास क्षेत्रमा ?
यसको प्रमुख कारण वन्यजन्तुको बसोवास क्षेत्रको विनास, वनक्षेत्रमा अतिक्रमण गरि अनियन्त्रित बसोवास तथा वनमा चितुवाको प्रमुख खाना मृग, हरिण, बँदेल, लंगुर, जंगली खरायो र अन्य स–साना स्तनधारी जनावरहरुको जनसंख्या ह्रास हुनु नै हुन । प्राय मृग, चित्तल, बँदेल, लंगुर आदीको पछाडी लागेर पनि वन नजिकैको मानव वस्तिमा चितुवा प्रवेश गर्छन भने वनमा खाना नपाएर बाख्रा आदी खानका लागि पनि मानव वस्तिमा छिर्ने गर्छन ।
करिव एक हपता अघि सम्म चुरेको चारनाथ खोला तिर, घटना स्थल देखि लगभग ३५–४० कि.मी. पर एउटा चितुवा देखिएको थियो जुन अब देखिन बन्द भईसकेको छ ।

५८ कि.मी. प्रति घण्टाको स्पिडमा दगुर्न सक्ने क्षमता भएकोले यो चितुवा सुरक्षित बसोवासको खोजिमा अथवा बँदेल र निलगाईको पछाडी लागेर पनि चुरे बाट जलाईध खोला हुँदै यस गा.वि.स. मा आएको हुन सक्ने सम्भावना देखिन्छ ।

यसका स्थाई समाधान के त ?
वन्यजन्तुको वसोवास क्षेत्र सुरक्षित राखी मानविय प्रवेश नियन्त्रित गर्नु तथा वन्यजन्तुको चोरी निकासी रोक्नका साथै सम्पूर्ण सरोकारवाला निकायहरु सक्रियताका साथ आफ्ना जिम्मेबारीहरु वहन गर्न सक्नु मात्रै यस समस्याको स्थाई सामाधान हुन सक्छ ।

अन्तमा मृत चितुवाको आत्माको चिर शान्तिको कामना सहित भबिष्यमा यस्तो अबस्था सिर्जना भएमा आवेगमा वन्यजन्तुलाई मार्नु भन्दा हामीलाई सम्पर्क गर्न आग्रह गर्दछौ साथै वन र वन्यजन्तु विनाको संसार हामी कल्पना पनि गर्न नसक्ने भएकोले भबिष्यमा यस्ता घटना नदोहो¥याउन समेत सम्बन्धित सबैमा विनम्र निबेदन गर्दछौ ।

सम्पर्कः
देव नारायण मण्डल
अध्यक्ष
मिथिला वाईल्डलाईफ ट्रष्ट
जनकपुरधाम–९, धनुषा
मोवाईल ः ९८१७६२९२२९
ईमेल ः dev@mwt.org.np
वेबसाईट ः www.mwt.org.np

Blog, News Updates

ONE YEAR OF CO-OPERATION BETWEEN NCELL AND MWT

July 25, 2016 Dev Narayan Mandal

Ncell and MWT signed an agreement on 8th July 2015 to work together for One year for “Awareness Campaign on Environment Conservation & Protection”.

The program “Awareness Campaign on Environment Conservation & Protection” was funded by Ncell under its’ CSR activities.

The carried activities are 1. Eco-club formation, 2. Debate on “Need of eco-club in schools”, 3. Painting competition on “Status of Dhanushadham Protected Forest – 10 years past and imagination of the development in coming 10 years”, 4. Mithila Cultural programme (a. Mithila Natak, b. Jhari Jhari, c. Jhijhiya and d. Dhol Pipahi/Sahanai), 5. 15 days Mithila Painting training for 20 students, and 6. Conservation education painting in Mithila Aart in Four schools surrounding Dhanushadham Protected Forest.

Mithila Sanskritik Karyakram

Mithila Painting also included Dhanush temple, the heart of Dhanushadham municipality.

Group Photo of 15 days Mithila Painting Training Programme organized by MWT

Lacking linkage with the market is one of major reasons, Madheshi community discontinue the business of indigenous skill. Most of the training provided here are just to train people with different skill to produce the products at home but never trained to sell their product in the market to get maximum benefit out of their training & skill. We have tried to link them with the market people. Student will prepare different Mithila Paintings in their home, and an organization working on the same will sell products in the market for them. The idea is the sustainability of the program, to provide them with permanent home-based business and to reduce school drop-out due to poverty.

Eco-clubs have been formed in 4 schools, Debate competition & painting competition in 4 schools, Mithila Cultural Programme in 4 school and Mithila painting training for students of 5 schools and Mushahar community.

Jhijhiya, a Maithili indigenous dance by Maithili community

Jhari Jhari, a Maithili indigenous dance by Maithili community

Dholpipahi/Sahanai, a Maithili indigenous music system of Maithili community

Jhijhiya, Jhari Jhari and Dhol Pipahi/Sahanai is part of preserving Maithili community’s indigenous culture to engage the tourists of home stay around Dhanushadham Protected Forest, proposed Dhanushadham Biological Unit.

We heartily thank Ncell for supporting us in the activities to connect school students in conservation and development of Dhanushadham Protected Forest and to prepare baseline for preparing environmental conservation agents in the society.

Conservation Education painting in Mithila Aart

Special thanks to school management team, teachers, students, local communities, Ilaka Forest Office, Ilaka Police Office, Armed Police Force base camp, Dhanushadham Municipality Office and all supporters and well wishers of Mithila Wildlife Trust, for helping us implement the programme successfully.

As continuity of the programmes, we’ve coordinated with Department of Forest (DOF) where they promised to provide different activities for eco-club members, added 15 days extra training for Mithila painting training participants which is already started in the hall of Dhanushadham Ilaka Forest Office.

Blog, News Updates

Dhanushadham Protected Forest is the “ILLICIT FELLING AND GRAZING FREE ZONE (अनियमित कटान तथा चरिचरण मुक्त क्षेत्र)”.

May 31, 2016 Dev Narayan Mandal

Dhanushadham Protected Forest is being declared as Illicit Felling and Grazing Free Zone on 30th May , 2016 by the respected Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation.

Welcome gate of the declaration programme

The interaction and awareness programmes, a strong co-operation from local community, a great leadership of Sh. Shankar Narayan Jha , AFO, Department of Forest, Dhanusha and a continuous and tireless support of Mithila Wildlife Trust made it possible for the forest to achieve it. It is necessary to mention here that total financial expenses for this achievement is Rs.1,500/- (Rupees One Thousand and Five Hundred Only), that too from external sources not the Government/NGO/INGO’s Budget.

Together, Dhanushadham Protected Forest Council (DPF Council) and Mithila Wildlife Trust (MWT) started conservation awareness programmes in July-2013. Over 100 interaction and awareness programmes were organized jointly in all the wards of Dhanushadham Municipality, Dhanusha.

Inscription declaring Dhanushadham Protected Forest as restricted zone for illicit felling and grazing

Inscription in the office compound of DPF

The forest is surrounded by 8,627 household and total of 45,008 population. With this announcement, DPF has become the first forest in the nation to be both Illicit Felling and Grazing Free forest at a time, without temporary or permanent boundary or any type of fencing.

Inauguration by respected secretary, forest

Group photo with Inscription declaring the DPF as restricted zone for illecit felling and grazing

The announcement was made by chief guest Shree Uday Chandra Thakur (Secretary, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation). Programme was chaired by Sh. Jagdish Yadav, President, DPF Council and special guests were Dr. Annapurna Lal Das, Member Secretary, President Chure Tarai Madhesh Sanrakshan Vikash Samiti, Sh. Gaurishankar Timla (DG, Department of Forest), Sh. Jivachh Sah (Personal Secretary, President of Nepal), Sh. Yadubansh Jha (Ex-Minister, Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation), Sh. Ram Kumar Sharma (President, Greater Janakpur Area Development Council), Sh. Braj Kishor Yadav (Ex-DG, Department of Forest), Dr. Akhileshwar Lal Karna (RD, Central Forest Directorate), Sh. Dilip Kumar Chapagai, CDO, Dhanusha), Sh. Suresh Vikram Sah (SSP, Janakpur), Sh. Santosh Mani Nepal (Chief, WWF Nepal), Sh. Raj Kishor Sah (Nimit LDO, Dhanusha), Sh. Raj Kishor Yadav (President, Videh Mithila Tourism Development Board), Sh. Dev Narayan Mandal (Chairman, Mithila Wildlife Trust).

Presence of DFCC members, Media Personals, Nepal Army, APF, line agencies, DFO, Dhanusha, Mahottari, Siraha, Sarlahi, Sindhuli and Chitwan, around 400 local buddies made the programme a historical event for the nation.

MWT Chairman receiving Certificate of Appreciation from Forest Secretary, DG Forest

Certificate of Appreciation awarded to MWT Chairman Mr. Dev Narayan Mandal

Dhanushadham Protected Forest as restricted zone for illicit felling and grazing

It was an inexpressible moment to receive Certificate of Appreciation by the respected Secretary, MoFSC. Both Sh. Dev Narayan Mandal (Chairman, MWT) personally and also MWT officially was awarded along with several supporters of the forest.

Thanks to the residence of Dhanushadham municipality, APF and Nepal Police to support us achieve this goal. We hope that this achievement will support us a lot in development of DPF as a Biological Unit in near future.

Special thanks to Suresh Sharma sir (AFO, DoF, Dhanusha), all DoF, Dhanusha staff and DPF Council Members. This historical achievement was impossible without your unconditional and continuous support.

Kindly be in touch if you would like to support us in our day to day activities.

Blog, News Updates

A MEGA STEP TOWARDS FUTURE OF JANAKPUR

August 5, 2015 Dev Narayan Mandal

For the first time in the history, Janakpur is jeweled with the development which will bound regular tourists to spend more time and attract new tourists to the area.

Way to Mini Zoo in Dhanushadham Protected Forest

Several records show that Janakpur receives around 10 Lakh (One million) tourists every year. They visit Janaki temple in Janakpur and Dhanush temple at Dhanushadham and return back within no time lacking the tourism spot in the area. It is natural that if we visit a place for half an hour we carry fast food or readymade food with us instead of staying or having food in the hotels and restaurants at the place. Janakpur is facing the same. Instead of getting benefited, Janakpur is used as a dust bin to throw plastic bags or packing materials and food wastes carried with the tourist.

One will be highly excited to know that the tourists visiting to Janakpur and Dhanushadham will be able to spend much time here. Animal enclosures are being constructed in the forest situated at Dhanushadham, near Dhanush temple (20 KM North–east from Janakpur).

Snake enclosure and turtle enclosure is constructed as part of proposed Dhanushadham Biological Unit inside Dhanushadham Protected Forest. Though the plan has been approved by Government of Nepal in 2069 B.S. (2013 AD), it is unable to drag the attention of Government or other donor agencies.

Three-keeled Land Turtle inside Mini Zoo managed by Mithila Wildlife Trust, Nepal (1)

Cobra looking outside of the snake enclosure in DPF

The development is being carried out with the small-small contributions from individuals of Dhanusha district, donations of Mithila Wildlife Trust and budget of Dhanushadham Protected Forest by Department of Forest, Government of Nepal.

Some of the wild animals rescued by Mithila Wildlife Trust will be housed in the enclosures for exhibition where most of them are directly released in the wild. We believe that this will encourage local residents and tourist of the park to conserve wildlife.