Nepal is a country rich in biodiversity largely attributed to its topography. It is gifted with exotic species of flora and fauna many of which are rare and, therefore, highly prized. However, many of these are endangered calling for conservation campaigns so that they do not become extinct and go by the way of the dodo. The National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act 1993 was promulgated with the intention of promoting conservation efforts. Nature lovers all over the world are increasingly concerned at how clandestine activities are taking place in smuggling rare species of wildlife and plants from the country. These fetch big prices in the developed Western countries where they are collected and showcased by buyers who are willing to pay for them. This has only encouraged the smugglers to engage in such illegal dealings. That such activities are commonplace is evident from the reports of various miscreants being nabbed with the prized species every now and then. Thus, we come to know about some being caught red handed with tiger or leopard skins. Again we get to hear about others being held for netting rare butterflies, which is not permitted. These are only tips of the ice berg. Certainly, such nefarious activities are being conducted by smugglers on a massive scale threatening conservation efforts. Since such racketeering is conducted ruthlessly in an international scale with more sophistication to avoid detection, conservationists involved in seeing to it have a difficult task ahead cut out for them. The comparative laxity in taking strict measures to check poaching and smuggling of endangered birds and animals has been further compounded through alleged political patronage.

Just the other day it was reported that a man was arrested for trading in a Eurasian Eagle Owl locally known as huchil. Incidentally, this owl (Bubo nipalensis) is an endangered species under legal protection as per the Forest Act 1993 and Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species

(CITES) Treaty 1975. The man was apprehended for possession of the bird by a team of police from MPCD with the assistance of Wildlife Conservation Nepal. Here, it is encouraging to learn that there are people actually engaged in doing something about foiling the smuggling bids. However, these are not adequate considering the enormous scale in which trade in endangered species is taking place. It becomes necessary to exercise extra vigilance and also to allocate more resources and infrastructure so that appropriate conservation campaigns can be undertaken.

Furthermore, given the serious nature of the offences committed and that the smugglers and peddlers of these species are often let off lightly, there should be provisions for stronger punishments and fines in order to discourage the smugglers who, by all accounts, are now engaged in their trade almost unhindered. Training customs staff and security personnel at places like airports and border check posts, and national parks and reserves so that they recognize the rare items falling under the endangered category, could also help the conservation bids.