Habitat Destruction

Rapid rate of urbanization in many parts of the Himalaya with explosion of human population has lead to deforestation and disappearances of many rare and useful species of wildlife. The tropical rain forests in the world are disappearing at an alarming rate of 50 acres per minute.

Many wild animals and bird have died and the remaining resorted to straying or incursion into the abutting geographic region in the endeavor to struggle and seek safer home ground.

The present rash and thoughtless destruction of natural resources clearly indicates our existence on earth is gravely threatened if we do not take coarse of the forest. Wisely maintained forest not only provides economic benefits to mankind but also insurances the nature against such eco-disasters as floods, droughts and landslides. Glaring examples of havoc wreaked by deforestation are known. The USA, once blessed with over 800 million acres, when colonized lost forests ruthlessly in building cities making Oklahoma, a man made desert. Fertile grass of country provided graying for thousands of cattle; farmers ploughed up to plant crops destroying thick carpet of grass roots that hold water. This followed a long period of drought with high wind that blew soils away in great sand storms. In Britain, well-wooded within the living memory the forest have dwindled to the vanishing point by relishing the precious forest wealth is “penny-wise, proud-foolish policy”.

Fast increasing desertification is also a contributing factor to habitat deterioration. Loss of habitat is the main process by which species become extinct. The tropical rainforest covers only 7% of the Earth’s surface area, and yet harbors more than 50% of all existing wildlife species in the world.

Agro-practices adopted by man in these isotopes are of rudimentary and in sufficient nature, wit wasteful use of land (Mayer, 1980). Some aspects of improper management and commercial over-exploitation in many parts of Himalaya in Nepal are grave and proving disastrous. The Himalayan degradation and loss of habitat of wildlife can be reality be stopped by suitable and appropriate means of ecological management and conservation of the forest cover.

Indiscriminate Poaching

Hunting by man has been the second major causes contributing to the disappearance of many wildlife species. The Ranas, then ruling Nepal and their Royal guests from British India and the Shah Ruler were hunting in different sectors of Nepal and killing precious animals as a pastime. During political up heals, the protection slackened resulting in extensive poaching. Uncontrolled felling of trees, over grazing of grassland, poaching of wildlife and burning o forests-all of which have continued unabated in many parts of the Himalaya. However, some satisfaction steps have been taken at Regional/District levels of check poaching of wildlife resources.

Under the respectable camouflage of crop protection, wild animal and birds were shot everywhere even in national parks and reserves and their surrounding VDCs in Buffer zone areas. This uncontrolled massacre through unceasing poaching vanquished many magnificent and rare species and the decline of the remaining forms is still continuing.

Food, feather, fur and recreation have always enticed people raid a large number of animals and birds through indiscriminate poaching and shooting. In spite of legal protection to wildlife, poacher and unauthorized hunters seriously impairs our threatened wildlife in the Himalayan regions due to lack of attention of forest and wildlife authorities, who must take strong and penalizing steps against the abrogates of game laws.

The successful protection of wildlife in the hills and high altitude areas are obviously difficult affairs. The need special laws and provision for the implementation and protection of wildlife. Some of the loopholes in the present wildlife (protection) act need amendments and inclusion are:

Hunting in group (gang) provides best means of posting a look-out to watch for wildlife authorities in hills by poachers can help easy escape at the approach of any threat.

Nominal cash fines as penalties by wildlife department can be easily paid by poachers, payment of much fine will suitably constitutes a license to the offenders by meager fines to the department.

No provision of punishing offenders by the wildlife department unless caught red handed. The standard excuse for armed poachers is self-defense against danger of wild animal.

Armed presence of civilians in forest is never questioned by wildlife staff.

Poachers had taken the precaution of skinning animals in the forest and burying of skin if no commercial value says anything at home. Thus house raids by wildlife department are circumvented.

Public opinion usually favors poachers as most hill people lack sufficient awareness of the values of wildlife preservation. The issues of eco-conservation of forest, wildlife, and other natural resources are considered as a frivolous pastime.

Bhatia traders inhabiting high Himalayas reaches mainly encourage and finance commercial poaching in such inaccessible biotopes and over killed victimized wildlife eventually succumbs to extinction.

Indiscriminate Use of Pesticides

Serious human and animal health hazard have appeared with the emergence of new era of insecticide eradication campaign. Wildlife, in particular some rare birds and mammals could not escape from the hazardous effects of such insecticides.

Sprays and dusts of insecticides in open fields expose wildlife to the risk of feeding on crops treated with them bringing numerous health problems that go unnoticed causing heavy mortality in nature.

Insecticides not only contaminate the environment and bring pollution but also interfere body metabolism and accumulate a poisoning activity (bio-concentration) in the body system.

DDT→ Stream, lakes, sea→ plankton → fish (adipose tissue) → birds →inhibits shells gland → thin shell → fail to hatch → bird population victimized.

Himalayan species of predatory bird (eagles/vultures). Long term effect of pesticides on environmental sue has been band in developed nation (USA, Canada and Scandinavian Countries).

Wildlife Disease, Pest and Predators

The subject of wildlife disease is an integral part of its conservation and management, but has unfortunately received very little attention in High altitude Himalaya regions of Nepal.

A wide variety of helminthes, protozoan, bacterial, viral and rickettsial diseases are responsible for killing large number of wild animals and birds in nature and even in zoos.

The principle action role of wild animals occurs in more than 30 zoo noses. Ticks take a heavey tool of wildlife by causing and transmitting serious ailments. Hoogstral (1970) collected the tick (Dermacentor everstianus) from Bharal in Nepal Himalaya.

The competition between wild herbivore mammals and livestock for grazing common grassland is also an important factor in extinction of wildlife in the Himalaya. In many Himalayan forests the grasslands are so over grazed that only little wildlife can be sustained in them.

Insects are also known to cause heavy looses among wildlife. The Chiru commonly carries insect larva beneath the skin.

Predation of Wildlife in Natural Environment

The impact of predators on prey varies from region to region. Of the candid predators, the red fox and Himalayan wolf are quite commons at extreme altitude and prey heavily on a variety of threatened wildlife.

The chief Himalayan predator which considerably impact the high altitude herbivore population is: Asiatic black bear, brown bear, snow leopard, wolf and red fox. Snow leopard and wolves kill bharal where as red fox and jackal is potential predator of the young.

High altitude predatory birds may kill the newborn of many threatened species of mammals and birds. Lammergeyers are known to have carried off a young goral. Likewise Giant golden eagle and lammergeyers considerably decimate the population of marmots, weasels, pheasants and other rare birds.