For the Animals' Safety

                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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