Somewhere
in the nation of Nepal, even as you read, a beautiful Bengal Tiger lurks among
the tall grasses at the edge of a windswept meadow. His deep yellow eyes remain
riveted and his huge pink tongue slips out to lick his mouth, revealing his
sharp, powerful teeth, as he studies the big herd of elephants frolicking by
the water just a few feet away. A little calf playfully sprays water about his
mother’s legs as she enjoys a long, cool drink. In the distance, a ways up the
river, a herd of thick-skinned rhino graze on the vegetation, one eye always
open, as they, too, bask in the peace of the evening.
And the
reason that such a peaceful scene is possible, might just amaze you.
Nepal
is having a celebration, this year, and we should all jump to our feet and join
them. As of the end of February, 2014, they have gone an entire year without a single incident of poaching of rhinos, tigers or elephants. Imagine that! Not
one! And more than that, this is not the first time they’ve managed to pull off
such a feat. They did it once before in 2011, too. What a landmark
accomplishment, not just for Nepal’s people but for the wildlife as well.
But
how, in a world where poaching problems run rampant, did they manage such a
thing? Surely we’d all like to know so we can duplicate it, right? It took
nation-wide commitment. Participation came from such institutions as national
parks, trusts, police and even the army! The country went so far as to
establish a Wildlife Crime Control Bureau and the Prime Minister of the country
took the time to chair a Tiger conservation committee. Poaching networks in
that country have been dismantled and ended, and network bosses have been
arrested by the truck-load. It’s very hard to sit still when you hear of such
good news, isn’t it?
Many
different species of animal are endangered as a result of the activities of humankind.
Sadly, we have a long history of proving that we are capable of pushing these
situations to the worst possible outcome. The Great Auk, a penguin-like bird,
was hunted out of existence because it became fashionable decorate ladies’ hats
with their feathers. Messenger Pigeons and Stellar’s Sea Cow were both pushed
to extinction for their meat. And the list goes on.
But
this year, Nepal proved to the whole world that we are also quite capable of
turning the situation around and promising a bright future to our wildlife and
to ourselves and to show Mother Nature the respect she deserves. We truly have
it in us to accomplish such an unbelievable feat!
Today
the tigers, rhinos and elephants can rest a little easier in Nepal. There’s one
country where they can be safe. But they still await the day when they can be
free in all countries.
So the
race is on. Who will be the second country to accomplish this amazing feat?
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