It was great to catch up with Kamal Jung Kunwar again yesterday. Many of you will know of his anti-poaching and conservation deeds. His book "Four Years for the Rhino" was internationally acclaimed, it tells of the remarkable events which took place when rhino poaching in Nepal was at a deadly serious level. The at times highly risky work of people like Kamal Jung ensured that the rhino now has much safer habitat.
After a stint as Chief Warden of Chitwan National Park, Kamal Jung is now eight months into his role of Chief Warden of Shivapuri Nagarjun National Park, an area which descends into the Kathmandu Valley. Shivapuri is a vital watershed for the valley, in fact eighty percent of drinking water in the valley originates from its steep jungle slopes. It is, as Kamal Jung describes, the head which sustains the body of the valley. Kamal Jung has a vision that there will be healthy populations of fish species in the Bagmati river. The river has its source high in the National Park and flows through Kathmandu where it is struggling for health but Kamal Jung has set his mind to change that.
Kamal Jung also has a deep appreciation and concern for the leopard. "The leopard is the tiger of the middle hills" he explains, "in fact many people call the leopard the spotted tiger". We spoke extensively about strategy using micro technology to aid anti-poaching of the big cat as well as human - leopard conflict mitigation. I'll have more on this soon but Kamal Jung as a true conservationist who has walked the walk knows how vital the leopard is as a keystone species.
"If we protect the leopard it means we protect the health of the forest" said the Chief Warden.
The other thing I really like about this man is he truly understands communities and the issues regarding their relationships with wildlife. "Shooting people and putting hundreds in jail ultimately isn't going to solve the problem of poaching" he said. Kamal Jung works closely at ground level with communities, he understands how economic development in balance with conservation is the real answer. As a man who has had his life threatened many times by wildlife traffickers he still has the compassion to give people the chance to get it right in circumstances where poverty can influence decisions. In an age where there is too much macho and manipulation regarding poaching and wildlife trafficking issues, Kamal Jung has shown his methods work. The rhino has benefited from that and now the leopard will as well, thus the habitats they live in will thrive, something we all need to happen.
More soon on WildTiger's collaboration with Kamal Jung and other like minded strong conservationists.
