“Already a hotspot for poachers and an established trade route for illegal wildlife body parts, Nepal is likely to face bigger problems if the country jumps into this new business without adequate preparation,” say Kumar Paudel Co-founder at Greenhood Nepal.

“The coronavirus pandemic is a much-needed wake-up call but people have short-term memory, they will soon forget the connection to habitat destruction,” says Kumar Paudel of the Greenhood Nepal.

“रेडपाण्डाको संरक्षणका लागि गतिविधि बढाउने, स्थानीय सरोकारवालाहरूसँग परामर्श गर्ने तथा विद्यार्थीहरूलाई पनि शिक्षा दिनेगरी परियोजना बनाएकी छु।” सावित्री राई, नेपाल संरक्षण अनुसन्धान फेलो ग्रीनहुड नेपाल ।

“While there is no clear scientific evidence of Covid-19 and its link with the wildlife conflict, it’s quite obvious that when people go back to the villages, because of their movement and presence, the chance of interacting with the wildlife increases”, says Kumar Paudel, co-founder of Greenhood Nepal.

“औषधिको रुपमा प्रयोग हुने बहुमुल्य जंगली अर्किडको व्यापार र संरक्षणलाई व्यवस्थित बनाउन सके यसबाट धेरै फाइदा लिन सकिने भए पनि नीति नियम कमजोर भएको कारण फाइदा लिन नसकिएको अवस्था छ” वन तथा वातावरण मन्त्रालयका उपसचिव बलराम पौड्याल।

“Enlisting of the elephant in CITES Appendix I means that cross-border trade is not allowed. In extraordinary circumstances, when these animals are taken across the border, permission from both source and destination countries are required. Otherwise, it is illegal,” said Kumar Paudel, co-founder at Greenhood Nepal

“Covid made pangolins a household name but it has not contributed much to its conservation. Our capacity and understanding are still very limited,” says Kumar Paudel, Co-founder at Greenhood Nepal.

“चाहे सिकारीको हातबाट होस् वा भूलवश भएकै दुर्घटनाबाट हुने वन्यजन्तुको मृत्यु पर्यावरणले व्यहोर्ने क्षति एउटै हो भनेर संरक्षणका प्रयासहरू हुनुपर्छ”, कुमार पौडेल, ग्रीन्हूद नेपाल ।

“We have witnessed a similar pattern before 2006 when the country was in the midst of armed conflict which saw a massive loss of wildlife,” such “incidents of seizing of wild animal parts from different parts of the country indicate how the nationwide lockdown has seen an increase in poaching.” says Kumar Paudel, co-founder at Greenhood Nepal.

“Greenhood Nepal launched a project in 2018 to estimate its population in Nepal and engage the local community in its conservation. The study has revealed some shocking facts”, says Kumar Paudel co-founder at Greenhood Nepal.