Chitwan, June 5

Chitwan National Park today marked zero poaching year at a programme to celebrate the fact that the park has not witnessed a single case of wildlife poaching for two consecutive years.

A joint conservation operation section was established to make wildlife conservation effective at a programme organised to coincide with World Environment Day today. No animal, including the one-horned rhino and big cats, have been poached at the national park after May 2, 2014.

According to Assistant Conservation Officer of the park Nurendra Aryal, with the establishment of the joint operation section, the Nepali Army and CNP will jointly carry out conservation and poaching control works. Chief of Army Staff Rajendra Chhhetri inaugurated the joint operation section.

On the occasion, he expressed hope that the joint operation section would help take conservation efforts to a new height. CNP informed that five persons comprising NA personnel and park staffers would be on standby round-the-clock for the protection of wild animals inside the park.

At the programme, Chief Conservation Officer Ram Chandra Kandel said the joint operation section would render patrolling effective. He added that the park was able to control wildlife poaching with support from CNP staffers, the NA, Nepal Police, APF and locals.

Meanwhile, Ramprit Yadav was felicitated with Life Time Conservation Achievement Award.