August 2014

THE CRAZE OF PRIVATE PLANTATION in DHANUSHA, NEPAL

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Around 2,200 people collected sapling for free from DPF Nursery this year. The free plant distribution programme started on 26.07.2014 ended on 18.08.2014, continued for 22 days. Six staff from DoF, Two from DPF Council and Two from Mithila Wildlife Trust was busy in distribution of the sapling and Two Lakh and Fifteen Thousand sapling were distributed during the period. This is the condition of a single nursery, where DoF, Dhanusha is having more than 10 Nursery including One in District Office. The craze of private plantation in Dhanusha district can be assumed from the situation as no plant remains in any of the nursery. DoF, Dhanusha has planned to expand the programmes in other places of the district. The changing trend in Dhanushadham municipality is quite positive and should be appreciated as the populations diverted to private plantation were depending on DPF to fulfill their need of firewood and timber products, which is impossible for a small patch of the forest. As per the records, 8,603 households are there in Dhanushadham where only 18,816 Nos. of trees are remaining in the forest. So, it is confirmed that substitute is required instead of depending on the existing forest. This is the one of the examples, which made to think DoF and MWT to protect this forest. The existence of the forest was in danger, but fortunately the regular interaction and awareness programmes of both DoF and MWT have solved the problems. Government of Nepal should encourage more private plantation throughout country, so that, the forest can be secured without any conflict with local community. We have experienced that community participation works best for such conservation.

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COMMON TREE SNAKE (Dendrelephis tristis) and GREEN KEELBACK/ GRASS SNAKE (Macropisthodon plumbicolor) SPOTTED IN DHANUSHA, NEPAL

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Recently, during free plant distribution by Department of Forest, Dhanusha at Dhanushadham Protected Forest, our chairman spotted a Common Tree Snake (Dendrelephis tristis) in the nursery. It is about 3.5 Ft. long. According to Indiansnakes.org and a book written by Herpetological Society of India, it is found only in Peninsular India. So, it’s quite exiting for our organization to find the snakes not to be the habitat in this area. This is the Second species of the snakes; first one was a pair of Forsten’s Cat Snake (Boiga forsteni) which was also spotted last time in the forest.   The rescue was assisted by Mr. Dhirendra Nepal, from Talk Nepal Pvt. Ltd. who is the project incharge for plantation of 33 Hectare forest land inside Dhanushadham Protected Forest, funded by NCell. He also mentioned that he had spotted a Green Keelback/ Grass Snake (Macropisthodon plumbicolor) inside the forest during plantation. Again, this is the species which is not to be native relatives of the area. As we have already mentioned in our previous posts, Dhanushadham Protected Forest is the only forest situated in Terai region of Dhanusha district. Due to our day and night service to the forest, the 95% problems to the forest (i.e. overgrazing, land encroachment, community made fire, illegal tree logging, wildlife poaching, and heavy trespassers) have been shorted out. Together Mithila Wildlife Trust and Department of Forest with help and participation of local community, the conservation programmes are being carried out successfully. We are in need of donors and supporters who can support us in measure developments for the sustainability of the conservation and restoration of the forest. Please contact info@mwt.org.np/index or dev@mwt.org.np/index if you are interested in the projects.

COMMON TREE SNAKE (Dendrelephis tristis) and GREEN KEELBACK/ GRASS SNAKE (Macropisthodon plumbicolor) SPOTTED IN DHANUSHA, NEPAL Read More »

RESCUE OF BANDED KRAIT SNAKE (Bungarus fasciatus)

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Mithila Wildlife Trust rescued a Banded Krait (Bungarus fasciatus) from Bhoyl village, Dhanusha. The snake was roaming nearby the Temple where Shivcharcha (a Special worship for Lord Shiva) was going on, so, people were misguided to superstitious beliefs. They hit the snake with a stick, the snake couldn’t move due to pain and they kept the snake in a steel drum. People coming to the temple were paying a minimum amount and they were praying the snake too. A gentle man from the village called Mr. Suresh Sharma, AFO, Dhanusha and Mr. Sharma had called our rescue team for the rescue and treatment of the snake. The call was attended by Mr. Dev Narayan Mandal, Chairman MWT and he with help of Mr. Santosh Rajak rescued the snake. The snake is under treatment inside Dhanushadham Protected Forest. MWT thanks all the gentle people supported us to give the snake a new life.

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