UPDATE 1 August 2021 – Today marks 6 months until the start of the Year of the Tiger 2022 (beginning 1 Feb 2022). Currently due to the crisis situation regarding covid-19 in South Asia we are facing serious challenges. Big cat body parts seizures continue at a high rate in the zone including Kathmandu through to the western Nepal border. Leopard skins are the predominant item seized but the tiger skin below was part of a haul when arrests were made of 4 Chinese nationals in Thamel, Kathmandu on 5 July. We’ve delayed our half year report at WildTiger in light of recent developments and there are investigations ongoing. WildTiger is transitioning through this six month period leading up to the Year of the Tiger, the will be an update in Snapshot soon, in the meantime please read below and refer to the menu. Updates are also available from WildTiger coordinator Jack Kinross at The Importance of Leopards.
Welcome to WildTiger – Our two main projects are Living with Big Cats which focuses on coexistence strategy and implementation and #AntiSnare which is our counter poaching/trafficking platform.
Leopard Hotline (Nepal but calls from India are welcome) – available for concerns regarding leopard (and other wildlife) activity in your area.
Your call will be answered by a CBAPU member any time day or night. While we deal directly with cases in west Nepal we welcome calls from anywhere (in South Asia) if you have concerns regarding leopard activity in your area. It is not restricted to leopard and if you have concerns regarding other species such as tiger or elephant where human life is at risk we will receive your call. Depending on the situation your case may be referred to people who specialize in leopard behavior or of the species your call is regarding. While human – wildlife conflict is a primary concern please feel free to give information regarding wildlife crime (including retaliation killing) especially regarding leopard but once again we are open to information regarding all species. We understand you may want to remain anonymous due to the sensitivity of such cases and you have the option of setting your phone so that your number does not display otherwise you can request confidentiality.
The set of circumstances regarding the dry season, the forest fires and covid-19 means we are being proactive in reducing human – leopard (and other wildlife) conflict with strategies specific to this situation.
This is a WildTiger initiative in collaboration with conservation partners and run through the CBAPU (Community Based Anti Poaching Unit) network. This notice is currently being translated into other languages and an online reporting platform (including anonymity if required) is currently being constructed.
‘Living with Big Cats’ – Guideline Distribution
Currently in the Bardiya/Banke (Nepal) and Katarniaghat (India) linked landscape protected area complex there are serious difficulties regarding human and big cat conflict. There has been 37 human fatalities (as at 2 August 2021) since the beginning of 2019. WildTiger in conjunction with conservation partners is distributing coexistence guidelines throughout hotspots, this will continue and be backed up by further information for forest users over the coming months.
Awareness and Education – Our multi-pronged model is our main LBC page describing how we work on the ground implementing the strategies we develop.
LeopardEye – Our wildlife monitoring action
Ecosystem Reboot – Putting big cats back where they belong
#AntiSnare
#AntiSnare Menu
2020 was a year of great challenges and 2021 is proving to be another year where constant evolution is needed in difficult circumstances as threats to wildlife continue. We send our best wishes to everyone in what is a difficult period and we express our sincere thanks to those who have helped WildTiger in our work in recent times. Covid-19 has meant adjustments within our framework but our commitment remains absolute, constantly evolving as we move forward.
We thank those who support our work at this critical time, more about our support and collaborations HERE. To assist or to inquire please email projects@wildtiger.org in the first instance. Project update notifications for 2021 are mainly at the Twitter site @WildTigerNews which also carries general news of big cat and other wildlife issues throughout the Asia – Pacific region.