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Covid-19 lockdown sets wildlife free but increases poaching threats in Nepal
  • +2
  • Narayan Prasad Koju,
  • Ram Chandra Kandel,
  • Hari Acharya,
  • Bed Dhakal,
  • Dinesh Bhuju
Narayan Prasad Koju
Nepal Engineering College

Corresponding Author:[email protected]

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Ram Chandra Kandel
3Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation
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Hari Acharya
Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation
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Bed Dhakal
Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation, Ministry of Forestry and Soil Conservation
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Dinesh Bhuju
Resources Himalaya Foundation, Lalitpur
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Abstract

To contain transmission of COVID-19, lockdown or strict restriction of people’s mobility outside their residence was imposed worldwide. In Nepal, the first phase of nationwide lockdown was observed from March 24 to July 21, 2020. This sudden halt in human activities brought positive and negative impacts on forests and wildlife. We undertook a study was undertaken to know the impact of the CoViD-19 lockdown on wildlife and forests in the protected areas (PAs) of Nepal. The study was carried in July and September 2020, data of illegal activities recorded by the PAs and also those reported by media were obtained and analyzed. Key Informant Interview (KII) was done with the park officers and security personnel by virtual communication that included telephone, messenger app, and ZOOM video meeting to collect detailed information and for verification. The collected data were categorized into four groups: i) wildlife killed, ii) wildlife injured, iii) arrest incidents related to forest crime, and iv) arrest incidents related to wildlife crime. Data from the fiscal year 2019-2020 were analyzed, comparing before lockdown and after. The study found trends of substantial increases in. wildlife death in two PAs, Banke National Park and Bardia National Park out of 20 during the lockdown. Similarly, Chitwan National Park (CNP) and Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park (SNNP) witnessed a rise in wildlife poaching. CNP and SNNP are located close to highly populated cities and also having human settlements in their peripheries. Interestingly, wildlife was easily sighted inside PAs during the lockdown, presumably because the absence of visitors and human activities during the lockdown decreased disturbance. Thus, a paradoxical situation was observed with the wildlife enjoying the freedom of movement on the one hand, but with poachers, many of them laid off from other activities, taking advantage of the lapse in security.
16 Mar 2021Submitted to Ecology and Evolution
17 Mar 2021Submission Checks Completed
17 Mar 2021Assigned to Editor
29 Mar 2021Reviewer(s) Assigned
14 Apr 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
04 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
11 May 20211st Revision Received
14 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
14 May 2021Assigned to Editor
14 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
18 May 2021Editorial Decision: Revise Minor
22 May 20212nd Revision Received
23 May 2021Assigned to Editor
23 May 2021Submission Checks Completed
23 May 2021Review(s) Completed, Editorial Evaluation Pending
24 May 2021Editorial Decision: Accept