Youth Assembly on Rhino Conservation

A youth assembly on rhino conservation is held in CV Raman Auditorium, Kathmandu University, on 2^nd June, 2010. The assembly was organized by Team for Nature and Wildlife and students of Environmental Science, batch 2009.  The main motto of assembly was to disseminate the current status of Rhino in Nepal and formulate the Youth Alliance for Rhino Conservation (YARC).

Youths from different colleges participated with enthusiasm in the assembly. The assembly focused on the current status of One Horned Rhinoceros, which is also considered as an emblem of Nepal as well. Sujan Dhakal, the advocacy coordinator of this campaign, quoted – “the number of Rhinoceros are decreasing day by day. According to statistics of government, the number of rhino was more than 1000 before 1950 A. D. but it gradually decreased to the number of 544 and 503 in year 2000 and 2008 respectively. And the main reason behind this drastic decrease in the number of rhinoceros is the poaching and political amnesty to those poachers.”  He also introduced the assembly to the 10 year project Mission Rhino 2020, launched by Team for Nature and Wildlife with the ambition of conserving rhino to increase its number to 2020 from the current number 403 (as per govt. record).

Mr. B. K. Dalit, former president of Team for Nature and Wildlife, focused mainly on the corruption connected with hunting of Rhino and smuggling of rhino’s horn. He accused that even the Supreme Court is turning its deaf ear on this matter. He also informed the assembly that one of the main smugglers of the rhino horns, Mr. Yakche Lama is being freed from prison before the assigned punishment. So he called every youth present in the assembly to unite together to raise voice against this decision of court.

The youth participating in the assembly also presented, after group discussion, how youths can take actions against the smuggling of rhino horns and how youth can participate in conserving rhinoceros. The assembly also finally formulated Youth Alliance for Rhino Conservation, which is expected to work for the conservation of Rhinoceros.

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