Human-animal conflict dominates Nature Fest at GHNP

Dipender Manta

Tribune News Service

Sairopa, February 11

The increasing human-animal conflict is a big threat for nature conservation, says Dr George Schaller, vice-president, Panthra during an interaction with the participants on the inauguration of the two-day Nature Fest at Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) in Kullu district.

To conserve nature under the world heritage site in the Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) Kullu, UNESCO, in collaboration with the Wildlife Institute of India (WII), is organising the fest at Sairopa.

Dr Schaller threw light over the depleting natural habitat and poaching for illicit trade and said due to this, many animal and bird species were on verge of extinction.

“There is need to connect community with nature conservation and make efforts to protect our environment,” he said.

In collaboration with Chinese and Tibetan scientists, Dr Schaller has worked for nearly two decades studying conservation initiatives for snow leopard, Tibetan antelope, and wild yak, among other species. His most recent conservation projects have been based in Laos, Myanmar, Mongolia, Iran and Tajikistan.

Dr AJT John, former Dean Wildlife Institute of India, and Dr Asad Rahmani, former Director, Bombay Natural History Society, also gave information regarding wildlife and discussed about the challenges to conserve it. They said there was need to ensure active participation of local community to conserve nature.

Director of the GHNP SS Kataik said, “We were focusing on creating awareness about the conservation of nature and wildlife which was under constant threat because of the growing animal-human conflict due to depleting of forest area. However, after the declaration of the GHNP as world heritage site, there was increase in number of tourists and we hope that we will be able to boost eco tourism.”

The Great Himalayan National Park (GHNP) was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site on June 23, 2014. The GHNP is home to 209 bird species, which attracts birdwatchers from across the globe. These include the endangered western tragopan and four other pheasant species.