KATHMANDU, MARCH 30
The second hunting season of this year has begun in Dhorpatan, the country's only hunting reserve, allowing tourists to hunt designated wild animals.
Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve permits hunting twice a year. The first season falls between Asoj and Mangsir, while the second takes place from Falgun to Baishakh in the lunar calendar.
In the ongoing second season, a total of 35 wild animals-including 13 Himalayan blue sheep (Naur), 10 Himalayan tahr (Jharal), and 12 wild boars-are set to be hunted. The Department of Wildlife and National Parks had invited bids for hunting in early February.
Six companies-Himalayan Wildlife Outfits Pvt. Ltd., Tracks and Trails Pvt. Ltd., Himalayan Safaris Pvt. Ltd., Global Safaris Nepal, Nepal Travel Expeditions, and Open Nepal Wildlife Safaris-have secured hunting permits for this season.
Meanwhile, hunters who received approval from the Department have started arriving in various blocks of the reserve.
Ranger Sagar Subedi from the Reserve Office stated that hunting will continue until the end of April. So far, only two Naurs have been hunted.
Hunters from the United States, Argentina, Spain, and France have come for this season's hunt. Conservation officials, along with Nepali assistants, will accompany them. Those permitted to hunt Naur and Jharal are given 15 days to do so under the direct supervision of reserve employees. Hunters are provided with the necessary weapons, ammunition, and cameras.
The permit price for hunting in the reserve ranges from Rs 625,500 to Rs 800,000 per animal.
According to Chief Conservation Officer Chandrashekhar Chaudhary, the reserve has collected Rs 12.6 million in revenue from the second season.
(With inputs from RSS)
