Lamjung, November 18:

Poaching of rare animals around villages including Bhujung, Pasgaun and Dhanpokhara in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) is on the rise.

The ACAP has restricted poaching of wildlife in these villages since 1996.

Poaching increased after the Maoists displaced the Bhujung-based office of the ACAP, said locals, adding that the smuggling of medicinal herbs has also increased.

Animals being poached in the jungles of Bhujung, Pasgaun and Ghanpokhara include leopards, deer, musk deer, bears, wolves, spiny babblers and wild pheasants.

Locals said poachers kill wild animals by trapping or poisoning them. “Poaching increased after the Maoists closed the Bhujung-based ACAP office,” said a local, Ash Bahadur Gurung.

Meanwhile, programme officer of the ACAP (Pokhara), Yam Bahadur Gurung, said: “Though there is talk of increasing incidents of poaching and smuggling of wildlife and medicinal herbs after the removal of the ACAP office from Bhujung, we have not received concrete proof of the same yet.”

He urged locals to check poaching and smuggling of medicinal herbs if they discover such cases. According to locals, poachers are active in high hilly areas as well.

“Poaching is increasing because the organisation working for the conservation of wildlife and the concerned government body are not monitoring these areas and not educating villagers about conservation,” said locals.