Nepal: A group of animal rights organisations have written to the Ministry of Forests and Soil Conservation expressing concerns over the proposal on the reinstatement of the practice to gift wildlife to foreign countries.

An amendment to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, which is under discussion, has proposed to include a provision that will allow export of Nepali wild animals as diplomatic gifts, a practice which was abolished soon after Nepal became a federal republic in 2008.

The Asia for Animals Coalition, a network of various organisations working on animal welfare, wrote the letter to Forest Minister Agni Sapkota, requesting him to safeguard Nepal’s wildlife and not to proceed with the practice of gifting. “Instead, as an alternative to wildlife gifting, we recommend that you invite diplomatic guests to visit Nepal’s majestic animals in their natural environment,” the coalition said in a statement on Saturday.

There are grave concerns associated with the capture, captivity and subsequent transport of wild animals, the coalition said, adding that many of these gifted animals are likely to be destined for zoos in the recipient countries, the standards of which will vary considerably, thus leaving Nepal’s animals at risk of living a life of fear and distress.

Nepal has earned its reputation as a nation with a commitment to both habitat and species conservation, with noted successes for tiger, rhino, snow leopard and red panda conservation.

The country has also been praised for its progressive policies and practices related to community forestry and protected area management. “The reinstatement of wildlife gifting has the potential to negatively impact this reputation,” the coalition said.

(Source: The Kathmandu Post)