Nepal: A recent statistics show that the Kathmandu Valley is still a major hub for trading and smuggling of body parts of endangered wild animals. According to the data of Kathmandu District Forest Office, 75 persons involved in wildlife crimes were rounded up till mid-April of the current fiscal year (2013/14) against 82 persons in the previous fiscal year(2012/2013).

As many as 10 red panda hides, four leopard skin, two tiger bones, a vessel claimed to be of elephant tusk, a python and python hide, a pangolin and its scale, one Tokyo gecko and one monitor lizard have been seized so far this fiscal. Likewise, 50 persons and 118 persons were arrested for their involvement in the illegal trading of wildlife body parts in 2010/11 and 2011/12 respectively, according to the DFO. From the period between 2010/11 and 2012/13, 16 red panda hides, 14 leopard hides, 10 rhino horns, eight musk pods, six tiger hides, six pangolins, six bear biles, two clouded leopard hides, 317.8 kg of peacock feathers, two bear gulls, one seahorse (20 kg), one ivory and various species of birds were seized in Kathmandu alone. For fighting wildlife crime, the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police has a special unit which conducts its operation throughout the country. The Metropolitan Police Crime Division also has a separate team to curb wildlife crimes in the valley. Other subordinate offices of Metropolitan Police Commissioner’s Office also assist to tackle illicit trafficking of wildlife parts in the valley. The DFO, however, carries out the final investigation and legal proceedings. According to the inspecting agencies, trafficking of leopard and tiger hides topped the wildlife crime chart in the city in previous years. However, of late smuggling of red panda hide is on the rise. (Source :The Himalayan Times)