Case Study. A Marmelos juice factory in the buffer zone of: Bardia National Park. The tree on which the Marmelos fruit grows was once only considered as useful for firewood. Villagers have now learned to manage this tree taking some of the fruits for their own use and leaving an amount for wild animals to feed on. The fruit is usually collected by children whilst older members of the community carry out the juice extraction and bottling. Initially only a local market the juice can now even be bought in Kathmandu! Eco-tourism: in Chitwan National Park buffer zone. The Shree Chitrasen and Baghmara communities operate their own elephant walking and canoe trip experiences into their own community forests adjoining the National Park . On a recent elephant walk taken at dawn in March we were able to see mother and calf one horned rhinoceros along with a wonderful selection of other forest animals and birds . The photos show how popular the trips are and the proceeds all go to the community for their own selected development projects . communities to improve their livelihoods and engage in the bigger picture of development and providing them with the ability to represent themselves, be heard and be able to ensure that they are not left out of Nepal’s future. Dung paper Leonardo Dicaprio visits Bardia National Park by Jane Poretsis Perhaps the greatest single benefit to the community has been the increased ability for them to work with each other in ways in which accountability and transparency fosters trust within and between communities. Various community forest groups will come together and form co-operatives that will handle funds as revolving grants, individual loans , emergency benefits etc . These are hugely important important and sustainable structures that allow © John Barker WWF/UK 5 NIGHTS / 6 DAYS TIGER TOPS KARNALI LODGE ITINERARY DAYITINERARY Day 01: Fly from Kathmandu to Nepalgunj. On arrival, meet and assist by a Tiger Tops representative and transfer to Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge on the edge of Bardia National Park. This two hour drive along the East West Highway passes through many fascinating Tharu villages. Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge is built in the materials of the local Tharu people and is situated on the edge of Bardia National Park. Upon arrival, the Lodge Manager will brief you on the National Park and on the wildlife activities available. A personal itinerary will be arranged to suit your interests. A hot and relaxing shower is followed by drinks and dinner. The rich wildlife of Bardia includes swamp deer, chital, sambar, barking deer, wild boar, nilgai or blue bull, monkey, elephant, tiger, leopard, crocodile and over 300 species of birds. One of the highlights of a trip to Bardia is a visit to the nearby Tharu villages. This provides an excellent and colourful introduction to the culture, farming and crafts of the Tharu people. 20 Himalayas | July-OCT 2011 Jungle tours on elephant back are a superb way of viewing and photographing wildlife. You may also like to go on a nature walk with an experienced naturalist, take a landrover drive in search of more wildlife and a float trip down the river or you may prefer just to relax. Overnight at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge Day 02-05: Wildlife activities and overnight at Tiger Tops Karnali Lodge. Depending on you’re your particular interests your days plans can be mapped out. Often there are certain events while you are down there that may influence your day. EXAMPLE Day 02: Order a 5.30 wake up call. Have a cup of tea or coffee before departing on an elephant for a three hour safari to the north east of Tiger Tops. Return to the Lodge for breakfast. Afterwards go for a walk in the nearby village before lunch. A short siesta or read a book before departing on a long drive through the jungle. Drinks and a slide show on conservation before supper. Day 03:Up at 7.00 am. Breakfast before driving to Chisopani bridge for a half day float trip down the Karnali river. A picnic lunch before being picked up by elephants to return to the Lodge for sunset. Day 04: Day 05: A day of rest. Get up late. Perhaps take a book and drinks to a nearby Machan (blind) and soak in the jungle sounds and watch the wildlife busing away at their day. Get up early. After breakfast go for a full day walk to learn Tiger tracking and understand the signs of the jungle with one of our professional guides. Take a lunch pack with some water for the day. Return for drinks before dinner at the Lodge. Day 06: After breakfast and early morning activities transfer to Nepalgunj airport for your return flight to Kathmandu. All stays at Tiger Tops are tailor made for the likes and needs of the guest. www.tigertops.com Karnali Lodge www.himalayasnepal.com Leonardo DiCaprio sets camera traps with WWF staff member Predeep Khanal © Jan Vertefeuille/WWF L eonardo DiCaprio and WWF/US CEO Carter Roberts have teamed up with: ‘Save Tigers Now’. Launched during the: ‘Year of the Tiger’ in a bid to save tigers from extinction. With Leonardo donating: $1 million from his Leonardo DiCaprio Fund set up in 1998. Together they hope to raise $20 million by the next Chinese ‘Year of the Tiger, 2022’ to help double the current population of tigers left in the wild. The Campaign has been designed to highlight the plight of the tiger whose future is threatened by illegal poaching, habitat loss and raise funds for tiger preservation. Leonardo DiCaprio a WWF Board Member, also paid a flying 3 day visit to Nepal’s Bardia National Park; touring the tiger habitat on elephant back, with the anti-poaching team and park guards, who are on the front line of protecting tigers from international traffickers (who hunt tigers for their skin and other body www.himalayasnepal.com parts, often used in Chinese medicine) to see for himself the threats the tigers face. “Tigers are endangered and critical to some of the world’s most important ecosystems,” said Leonardo DiCaprio. ‘Key conservation efforts can save the tiger species from extinction, protect some of the planets last wild habitats and help sustain the local communities surrounding them. By protecting this iconic species we can save so much more’. According to the WWF, ‘more than 90 per cent of historic tiger habitat no longer has tigers. Three tiger sub-species have gone extinct since the 1940s and a fourth one, the South China tiger, has not been seen in the wild for 25 years’. “WWF is privileged to have partnered with Leonardo DiCaprio to work on tiger conservation. He cares deeply about the fate of Wild Tigers and the people with whom they share their habitat. He is committing his time, wealth, and most importantly, his talent to this noble cause,” said Mr. Anil Manandhar, Country Representative of WWF Nepal. “From using path-breaking scientific techniques on the ground to actively pushing for better policies on tiger conservation nationally and internationally, WWF is supporting the Government of Nepal’s wide-ranging efforts to save the Wild Tiger population in Nepal”. With WWF CEO Carter Roberts commenting: “Give tigers enough space and protection and they’ll recover”. The actor and environmentalist also learnt how the WWF scientists monitor the parks tigers, and set camera traps with WWF staff member: Predeep Khanal. 21 Himalayas | July-OCT 2011