KHOTANG-Nepal, May 3: Only a few years back wild animals could be sighted easily after a few minutes of walk through the community forests of Khotang district, Eastern district of Nepal. But such sights are getting rarer. Once teeming with wild animals including the endangered ones, unchecked smuggling and poaching of these animals in the community forests of Khotang are now running out of their natural habitants. As most of the community forests are located far away from the district headquarters, Dhiktel, neither forest officers nor other government authorities seem to be able to guard the forests properly. Smuggling and poaching of wild animals like red panda, black bear, porcupine, owl and axis deer have increased mostly at Chilimlahure, Bagale, Phungalung, Chimalung and Thamkharka community forests of the district. “The community forests are located at such hard- to-access rural areas, it´s even difficult for locals like us to reach there -- but not for the smugglers. It is hard to believe that the authorities concerned are least bothered about this situation,” said a local from Phedi, Dhan Kumar Rai. According to Rai, smugglers are even hiring helicopters to reach the forest areas and do the hunting without any obstructions. “Smuggling of animals is growing here and security measures should be implemented immediately before it is too late,” added Rai. Wild animals are poached and smuggled for their valuable body parts. Price of their hide, horns, bones, hair and even nails can fetch fortunes in black markets. According to the locals, smuggling of bear is on the rise especially at Kopche and Merung community forests in Patheka VDC. Bears are captured and hunt down for their liver, which can sold for thousands of bucks. Similarly, smuggling of pangolin has been reported at community forests located at Dhitung, Rajapani, Bijayakharka, Arkhaule, Saale, Haleshi, Batasay, Lichki Ramche, Maheshowri, Jaleshowri, Hauchur and Kuvinde VDC. The pangolin hide can fetch up to Rs 20,000 in the black market. Similarly, an owl can be sold between Rs 1,00,000 to Rs 3,00,000. “It´s the money they get to earn after selling these wild faunas that encourages the smugglers to kill these animals without any mercy,” said a local. Meanwhile, the Khotang District Forest Office stated that they have already informed the police about the ongoing criminal activities in the forest areas. “We have also deployed our officers to control the smuggling and poaching of animals in those community forests. It would be a great help if the locals inform us about any smuggling activities,” said Chief District Forest Officer, Deepak Raj Nepali. (Source : Myrepublica)