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A Midterm Report on Establishment of Co-existence with Re-colonized Population of Asian Elephant (January 1 to June 30, 2014)

Submitted to International Elephant Foundation USA

Submitted by National Trust for Nature Conservation Bardia Conservation Programme Thakurdwara-5, Bardia, Nepal July 31, 2014

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1. Project title: Establishment of Co-existence with Re-colonized Population of Asian Elephant 2. Names of Investigators, Affiliation and contact information: Principle Investigator Name & Title: Mr. Rabin Kadariya, Conservation Officer Institution: National Trust for Nature Conservation/Bardia Conservation Programme Institution Address: Thakurdwara-5, Betani, Bardia, Nepal Phone, Fax, email: +977-84-402045, +977-84-402046, rkadariya@yahoo.com Co-investigator Name & Title: Mr.Sher Bahadur Pariyar, Coordinator (Conflict Mitigation Program) Institution: National Trust for Nature Conservation/Bardia Conservation Programme Institution Address: Thakurdwara-5, Betani, Bardia, Nepal Phone, Fax, email: +977-84-402045, +977-84-402046, sherbdr.pariyar@gmail.com 3. Project starting date: 1 January, 2014 4. Anticipated completion date: 31 December, 2014 5. If this is an ongoing project, state short and long term goals that you are using to evaluate your accomplishments. The long term goal of the project is to mobilize the local communities by adopting alternative conflict mitigation measures and conservation awareness for the long term human elephant coexistence in the buffer zone of Bardia National park and its adjoining areas. 6. Conservation needs The population of Asian wild elephant has increased in the recent year. In total there are 80 wild elephants in BNP whereas only two elephants were recorded in 1992. The increase in population of this animal has become good news for the conservationists whereas the same news becomes the matters of frightening, even up to life threatening, for the local people who are frequently facing the events of conflict with the elephant. There are more than 70000 people residing in the western part of buffer zone of Bardia National Park (BNP). Most of the households (more than 90 percent of the total population) are dependent up on the agricultural activities for their subsistence. The dependency on agriculture is higher than the other part of the district. Almost all of the farmers grow agricultural crops like paddy, wheat, maize and some vegetables that are more attractive to the wildlife including elephant, which frequently visit the agricultural fields outside the national park. To mitigate the conflict with the elephant, the people of this area are practicing several means since the very past. They make sound by shouting, create fire flames, and guard their crops at night. But all these efforts are not sufficient to reduce the losses to a tolerable level at which people feel the conflict a natural phenomenon and owe positive attitude towards conservation of this species. The western sector of the buffer zone is more suffered by the conflict with elephant than other part of the buffer zone of Bardia National Park (BNP). This is due to the fact that the area is most remote and people frequently enter the forest for their livelihood as they don’t have other option. The higher dependency of people on agricultural activity has increased the potentiality of conflict with HEC that the animal frequently visits the farm land in search of foods. Each year conflict with elephant lost the lives of people either inside the forest (Community forest and sometimes national park) or outside the forest in their village. Except few cases, almost all the movements of the elephant in the villages are

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not so peaceful. The recent statistics of conflicts show that there is dramatic increase in the human wildlife conflict in the buffer zone of BNP. 50 people are killed in the conflict with human and wildlife in the last one decade among them 33 have got death in the conflict with elephant. Remaining 16 are killed in the conflict rhino, tiger and leopard. Among the 19 Village Development committees (VDCs) in the buffer zone of BNP, the project proposed 9 VDCs have faced 24 casualties within the decade. The rate of the loss of lives is increase in the recent years. The percent of the property damage in the western part is very high as compared to the proportion of the land area with other part of the buffer zone. The cost of damage of property and crop raiding is very huge. As the economic status of the people in this area is below than the others from outside and they are directly dependent on the forest products and agricultural activities they are more suffered from the HEC. This project aims at minimizing the conflict between human and wildlife particularly the conflict between human and elephant with taking account the conservation of elephant and establishing a sustainable mechanism for maintain it below a tolerable state. People will adopt the tools and techniques for the mitigation HEC in a systematized manner so that the impacts of the project will sustain even after the funding cycle of the project. This project will reduce the losses of properties, crops, livestock and lives of people in the area. Involving communities in the HEC minimization will make people realize some responsibilities in finding out the solution to human-elephant conflict and it will direct them act for elephant conservation. 7. Summary of goals and objectives: The objectives of the project are: To minimize HEC by organized action based conservation awareness program To support people to adapt best viable HEC mitigation measures To establish the long term human elephant conflict assessment program. To establish rapid medication fund for elephant victims

8. Describe any changes in goals: No change 9. Actions taken During the period massive conservation education session and community mobilization for electric fence maintenance were organized with the support of International Elephant Foundation and the matching fund of National Trust for Nature Conservation/Hariyo Ban Program and AWELY Red Caps Programs. Bardia National Park have been playing key role for the mobilization of local communities for the timely repair and maintenance of electric fence. Similarly the local community based organization such as Buffer Zone Community Forest User Group, Buffer Zone User Committees, Eco Clubs and Women Groups are actively participating for the successful implementation of project activities. A inception workshop was organized by involving officers of park, community leaders, eco teachers and staffs of National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) for preparing the work plan to implement the project activities on time with maximum support from local communities and organization. By realizing the importance of elephant human conflict minimization six NTNC staffs are involved for the implementation of project activities. The details action taken for the project activities is as follows: 9.1. Objective 1: To minimize HEC by organized action based conservation awareness program Documentary preparation: Video clips of elephant damage and successful mitigation measures have been taken and it will be finalized by the end of August, 2014. Street drama group formation and drama performance: Bardia Conservation Drama Group has been established by the eco club members of Shree Nepal Rastriya Lower Secondary school, Thakurdwara with the aim of delivering massive conservation awareness by performing street drama.

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The group has prepared drama on human wildlife conflict mitigation measures and its precaution, importance of village youth in tiger and rhino conservation and bird conservation. 13 students are affiliated with the group of which 5 boys and 8 girls. Trainings were also organized for the members to prepare the drama on different themes. The group has performed the drama while celebrating wetland day, environment day, and international women day and wildlife week. Similarly, community youths have formed a street drama group (Nature Conservation Youth Group). This street drama group is a team of conservation devoted more than thirty youths especially well trained on the human wildlife conflict and its mitigation measures. The support was provided to purchase the sound system and customs. 3 days training program was also organized for the group, which was led by an experienced trainer from outside the district. These groups have preformed street drama in 5 different places where 2870 local communities fully watched the drama on human wildlife conflict and its mitigation measures. The dramas organized by these two groups are presented in following table 1.

Table 1: Drama performance by drama groups Date Target group Location Participants Topic of street drama

6/5/2014 Villagers of Patabhar-7 Bhatera

Patabhar-7 Bhatera

950 Human Wildlife Conflict

1/15/2014 Community members Thakurdwara-6, Thakurdwara

1200 Human Wildlife Conflict

2/15/2014 Community members Chisapani, Pitmari 205 Human Wildlife Conflict

4/15/2014 Community members Thakurdwara 250 Human Wildlife Conflict

6/5/2014 Community members Thakurwara 265 Human Wildlife Conflict

Total (5) 2870

Photo: Street drama performed by members of eco club for the habitat conservation

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Community Education: During this period, 26 conservation education sessions were conducted among community members in Neulapur VDC and across Geruwa region with 892 participants. The aim of conservation education sessions is to involve local community for the conservation of biodiversity in Bardia by minimizing human wildlife conflict. Documentary show on human wildlife conflict mitigation measures, education session and active discussion were organized. The detail of conservation education session is presented in table 2.

Table 2: Details of community conservation education sessions

Photo: Community Conservation awareness session for village women

S.N. Date Group/location Participants Session on1 2/2/2014 Lali gurash and Ganeshpur BZCFUG 25 Climate change and HWC Mitigation2 2/3/2014 Bardaiya baghaiya BZCFUt 17 Community forest management3 2/4/2014 Okhriya, Sarada, Deshaur chauni, Janchetana kushamtadi BZCFUG 37 Climate change and HWC Mitigation4 2/5/2014 Chulchiya BZCFUG 17 Community forest management5 2/6/2014 Saljhundi and kusumtadi BZCFUG 22 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence6 5/30/2014 Two members of 15 BZCFUG from lower part of Patabhar VDC 33 Community forest management7 5/31/2014 Two members of 15 BZCFUG from upper part of Patabhar VDC 35 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence8 5/20/2014 Grewa BZUC (newely elected committee) 18 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence9 6/4/2014 Two members of 15 BZCFUG from Gola VDC. 24 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence10 6/15/2014 Sonaha User's Group, Manau-5 Sonaha gaun 37 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence11 014-05-27 Neulapur 1, Amreni 26 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence12 014-05-27 Neulapur 1, Balati 62 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence13 014-05-28 Neulapur 2, Perahni 47 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence14 014-05-28 Neulapur 2, Pratappur 34 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence15 014-05-29 Neulapur 3, Karmala 32 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence16 014-05-29 Neulapur 4, Ranipur 24 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence17 014-05-29 Neulapur 4, Sujanpur 41 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence18 014-06-02 Neulapur 5, Singhbahini 46 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence19 014-06-01 Neulapur 5, Dumreni 122 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence20 014-05-31 Neulapur 6, Kanchanpur 17 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence21 014-06-03 Neulapur 7, Bhurigaun 31 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence22 014-05-30 Neulapur 8, Satgharuwa 45 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence23 014-05-31 Neulapur 8, Tingharuwa 28 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence24 014-05-31 Neulapur 9, Neulapur 23 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence25 014-05-31 Neulapur 9, Neulapur 33 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence26 014-06-03 Neulapur 9, Godana 16 HWC Mitigation and Electric Fence

Total 892(26)

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School Education: Sessions on human wildlife conflict mitigation measures were organized in six schools of Patabhar VDC to aware school students for the minimization of conflict as these areas are severely suffering from the crop damage, property damage and human causalities from wild elephants. 315 school students were involved in the session. Pre test and post test were taken to evaluate the effectiveness of conservation education session. The detail of session is presented in table 3.

Table 3: Details of school conservation education sessions Date Schools's Name and Address Students Educaiton Topic

1/19/2014 Student of grade eight of Shree Khairabang Bhagwati LSS, Patabhar-4 Rajipur

15 HWC Mitigation measures and conservation pre and post-test

1/20/2014 Student of grade eight of Shree Ekpriya HSS, Patabhar-3 Patabhar 121 HWC Mitigation measures and

conservation pre and post-test

1/21/2014 Student of grade eight of Shree Janata LSS, Patabhar-7 Sarkhol 35 HWC mitigation measures pre-

and post test

1/23/2014 Student of grade eight of Shree Janaki HSS, Patabhar-6 Janaknagar 56 HWC Mitigation measures and

conservation pre and post-test

1/17/2014 Student of grade eight of Shree Sarswati LSS, Patabhar-9, Bankatti 44 HWC Mitigation measures and

conservation pre and post-test

2/20/2014 Student of grade eight of Shree Sarswati LSS, Patabhar-9, Bankatti 44 HWC Mitigation measures and

conservation pre and post-test Total (5) 315 Day Celebration: Wetland day, world environment day, International women day, local traditional festival and wildlife week were celebrated by organizing elephant conservation message such as street rally, cultural shows, art competition and exhibition display in collaboration with Bardia National Parks, eco-club, community based organizations and youth clubs.

Photo: Rubbish collection from the highway passes through Park in the occasion of wildlife week

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9.2. Objective 2: To support people to adapt best viable HEC mitigation measures Formation of electric fence transects and Electric fence maintenance group: NTNC-BCP has been regularly involved to minimize human-wildlife conflict around Bardia National Park. Since last five years, support was provided to local communities for the extension, upgrading and maintenance of existing power fence but the proper mechanism cannot be institutionalized till date. Village meetings were organized after the consultation with BZUCs for the proper running of electric fence in all time. After the series of meetings (Table 4), communities are motivated to establish fence guard for the timely repair of fence and community mobilization for the regular cleaning of site. Electric fence management campaign were organized in 31 places of eight VDCs and 1480 community members who are living near the fence were actively participated for the sustainable management of electric fence. The existing fence is divided into the section depending up on the coverage of power back up machine and the guarding responsibility goes to the guard who is recruited by the each villages. An electric fence management fund is established in 5 Buffer Zone User Committees i.e. NPR 161500 and Hariyo Ban program also granted for the seed money. This fund will be used for the partial salary of fence guard, purchase of repair materials and timely maintenance of machine and other accessories. In the 5 BZUCs, 11 fence guards are mobilized of which 2 in Suryaptuwa, 3 in Thakurdwara, 2 in Shivapur, 3 in Neulapur and 1 in Bagnaha. These 11 local resource persons (guard) were oriented on techniques of fence repair and well equipped by spare materials (wire, clip, nails and pipe), repairing tools (hammer, stretching machine, pillas and current meter) and logistics (bicycle, bag, jackets). The name list of fence guard is presented in Table 5. For the proper monitoring and timely repair of electric fence from their respected areas, focal person were also selected and mobilized. The name list of focal persons is presented in table 6.

Table 4: Electric fence maintenance campaign SN Date VDC/ward Location Participant Decision/Results Mgmt.

fund 1 11/8/2013 Gola-1 Shantipur 25 Two torch on/off button were damaged

and no regular entering of Elephant.

2 11/24/2013 Patabhar-6 Madhavpur 22 About seven houses were motivated to cultivate menthe.

3 12/6/2013 Gola-1 Shantipur 35 About twelve houses were motivated to cultivate menthe.

4 12/22/2013 Manau-8 Bajpur 33 About twenty houses were motivated to cultivate menthe and electric fence was repaired where it was damaged.

5 1/26/2014 Manau-1 Sonahphant 25 A class was taken on HWC mitigation to change their perception that electric fence doesn't work properly.

6 2/2/2014 Gola-5 Gadditole 28 Although all electric fence was in good condition but there was problem of poles.

7 2/23/2014 Gola-8 Uttargola 32 Although all electric fence was in good condition but there was problem of poles.

8 3/1/2014 Gola-1 Shantipur 31 We fix date to replace it. 9 3/28/2014 Patabhar-3 Tikaligadh 26 Monitoring of electric fence and estimate

the quantity of wire, nail and clips to repair damaged areas.

10 4/15/2014 Patabhar-7 Bhathera 15 Suitable house was chosen to keep new solar backup machine.

11 5/17/2014 Patabhar-7 Bhathera 35 Different types of work were divided to different villages group.

12 5/24/2014 Patabhar-7 Bhathera 12 Solar backup machine was successfully established.

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SN Date VDC/ward Location Participant Decision/Results Mgmt. fund

13 6/22/2014 Manau-5 Parseni 22 An electric fence guard should be kept under supervision of Nepal army, NP staff, Red Cap and UC by paying him some money from villagers and UC.

14 5/12/2014 Neulapur Karmala 31 Discussion meeting arrange with Singhbahini and Ranipur, watch guard system , sub meter for machine , established electric fence management fund , stretching machine , watch tower maintenance

31300

15 5/12/2014 Neulapur Balanti 33 Electric fence repair and maintenance, Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard

16 5/13/2014 Neulapur Amreni 60 Electric fence repair and elected focal person, discussion about watch guard and resource management for watch guard

17 5/13/2014 Neulapur Singbahini 33 Electric fence repair and elected focal person, watch guard.

18 1/6/2014 Neuplapur Dumreni 100 Discussion on fence repair in the Dumreni area

19 1/11/2014 Thakurdwara BCP 25 Discussion with community key leaders 20 5/16/2014 Thakurdwara Betani 25 Electric fence repair and maintenance,

Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management for guard

46950

21 5/17/2014 Thakurdwara Thakurdwara 79 Controlled grazing in electric fence area , repair and monitoring

22 5/4/2014 Thakurdwara Gobrela 82 Wild Elephant controlled , New solar machine installed

23 5/20/2014 Thakurdwara Gobrela 52 Electric fence repair and maintenance, Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management

24 5/24/2014 Thakurdwara Hattisar 175 awared on the importance of fence 25 5/25/2014 Thakurdwara Hattisar 200 Electric fence repair and maintenance,

Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management

26 1/12/2014 Suryapatuwa Tanduwa 14 Discusison with community ke leaders

27 5/24/2014 Suryapatuwa Tanduwa 29 Electric fence repair and maintenance, Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management

31300

28 6/13/2014 Baghnaha Sainawar 50 Electric fence repair and maintenance, Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management , New machine installed

15650

29 6/15/2014 Shivapur Bankhet 79 Electric fence repair and maintenance, Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management

39900

30 5/13/2014 Shivapur Motipur 45 Wild elephant dmage the house

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SN Date VDC/ward Location Participant Decision/Results Mgmt. fund

31 6/15/2014 Shivapur Motipur 27 Electric fence repair and maintenance, Electric fence management and elected focal person , watch guard and resource management

31 Total (8 VDCs) 1480 165100

Table 5: Details of LRP mobilization for electric fence management S. N. BZUC Guard Name Address Coverage Area 1 Suryaptuwa UC Krishna Tharu Suryapatuwa 5 Bhaddkitandu - Durganagar 2 Suryaptuwa UC Bujhauna Tharu Suryapatuwa 3 Durganagar - Kailashi 3 Thakur Baba UC Jaggu Tharu Thakurdwara 9 Kailshi - Riverside hotel 4 Thakur Baba UC Hari Chaudhary Thakurdwara 5 Riverside-Chitkaiya 5 Thakur Baba UC Kali Ram Tharu Thakurdwara 2 Chitkaiya - Gobrela 6 Shivapur UC Dhani Ram Subedi Shivapur 7 Gobrela - Lathuwa 7 Shivapur UC Prakash Thapa Shivapur1 Lathuwa - shivapur 8 Shreeramnagar UC Bajaru Tharu Neulapur 1 Ambasa - Balanti 9 Shreeramnagar UC Lal Bdr. BK Neulapur 3 Karmala - Singhabahini 10 Shreeramnagar UC Neulpur Bhuriganu post-Sainwar 11 Bagnaha UC Gobinda Bhandari Baghanaha Sainwar - Bagnaha

Photo: Meeting with villagers for the sustainable running of electric fence ( the meeting selected the focal person, fence guard and tole leaders)

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Table 6: Name list of focal person

BZUC Section Overall Tole Machine holders

Local organizations

and focal person

Suryaptuwa Baddkitanduwa - Durganagar

Badghar Chotkitanduwa - Mani Ram Tharu

Chotki Tanduwa -Maniram Tharu

Kalu Ram Tharu

Bhaluni Bhatuwa CF Badkitanduwa BZCF

Suryaptuwa Durganagar - Kailashi

BZUC Chairperson - Amin Tharu

Kailashi Badghar -Dasarath Tharu Dalla- Badghar,Ashok Tharu Durganaga - Badghar, Dhan Bir Pariyar Dalla CFUG Chairperson -Puni Ram Tharu

Thenchu Tharu

Shiva CF, Dalla BZCF, Kailashi BZCF

Thakurbaba Kailshi - Riverside hotel

Badghar, Shivapur -Ajodhi Pajiyar

Khuraha Tole- Laxmi Khatri Bandrahawa - Pahalman Tharu Hariyali Tole - Narendra Adhikari Hattisar-Lautan Tharu

Kunwar singh Tharu

Shivapur- Bandrahawa CFUG Chairperson Padmakhar Neupane

Thakurbaba Riverside-Chitkaiya

Betahani CFUG Chairperson – Shreedhr pokharel

Betahani UG chairsperosn- Bhagi Ram Tharu Thakurdwara Badghar – Hari Ram Tharu

BCP Office

Betahani and Thakurdwara BZCFs

Thakurbaba Chitkaiya - Gobrela

Gobrella Leader Jaya Ram Tharu –

Gobrela –Jaya Ram Tharju Badghar Chitkaiya- Tulsi Ram Tharu Chitkaiya BZCFUG Chairperson Gagan Sahi

Jaya Ram Tharu

Chitkaiya and Madela Gobrella BZCF

Shivapur UC Gobrela - Lathuwa

BZUC Secretary -Kamal Pd. Kandel

Badghar Tallo Bnkhet -Bala Ram Acharya Badghar Mathillo Bankhet-Kamal Pd. Kandel Bathanpur Leader -

Bankhet Post

Shivapur Ekikrit BZUC

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BZUC Section Overall Tole Machine holders

Local organizations

and focal person

Man Bdr. Katuwal Shivapur Lathuwa -

shivapur Badghar, Lathawa -

Dattanath Yogi Motipur.....................

Motipur Post

Shivapur Ekikrit BZUC

Shreeramnagar Ambasa - Balanti

Badghar , Amreni Bajaru Tharu

Amreni – Bajaru Tharu Sukumbasi Tole - Devraj Sunar Bhawani Phanta- Nar Bdr. Sunar Mukta Kamiya Tole - Dilli Ram Tharu Achami Tole - Ram Pd. Joshi Badghar, Balanti –Mani Ram Thru

Manik LAl Tharu

Shreeramnagar BZUC

Shreeramnagar Karmala - Ranipur-Singabhini

Cooperative Chairperson -Firulal Chaudhary

Karmala UC Vice Chairperson -Rishi Raj Panta Badghar Singhabahini –BhosudasTharu

Krishna Pd. Kandel

Shreeramnagar BZUC

Shreeramnagar Bhuriganu post - Sainawar

Bed Khanal

Babai Sainwar - Bagnaha

Babai UC Chairperson Chakra Pd. Khanal

Badghar Sainawar -Jagat Ram Tharu Badghar Bargada -Bhosu Tharu

Sainawar post

Babai BZUC

Photo: Basic orientation training organized for local resource persons (electric fence guard)

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Similarly to establish the electric fence monitoring, maintenance and repairing activities efficient total electric fence length is divided into ten different electric fences transects in western part of buffer zone. Red caps are regularly monitoring each transect of electric fence and motivating the local people of respective transect for maintaining the electric fence well functioning. 17 electric fence maintenance groups are formed to cover the total length of electric fence across Geruwa region. The detail of electric fence maintenance group (EFMGs) across Geruwa of buffer zone is presented in table 7. Table 7: Electric fence maintenance group (EFMG) across Geruwa River S.N Name of EFMG Location Chair person of EFMG 1 Madhavpur EFMG Patabhar-6 Bhavi lala Shrestha 2 Shantipur EFMG Gola-1 Shantipur Nirmal Tharu 3 Nauranga EFMG Manau-8 Ramu Rimal 4 Tiklighad EFMG Patabhar-3 Lahu ram Tharu 5 Prasheni EFMG Manau-5 Fatak Tharu 6 Gaddi tole EFMG Gola-8 Thakur Prashad Tharu 7 Uttar Gola and Dangpur EFMG Gola-3 -5 Jogilal Tharu 8 Sonahaphat EFMG Manau-1 Jaya bahadur shahi 9 Rajipur EFMG Patabhar-4 Janak lal Tharu 10 Guptipur EFMG Manau-2 Jaya bahadur Bi.Ka. 11 Manau EFMG Manau-3 Manau Binti ram Tharu 12 Bajpur EFMG Manau-9 Bajpur Shyam lal Tharu 13 BanKhet EFMG Patabhar-7 14 Nature Conservation Youth Group Pashupatinagar-5 Challu Ram Tharu 15 Khonpur EFMG Gola-9 Khonpur Bal krishna Tharu 16 Khallagayun EFMG Gola-8 Mohan Bdr. Singha 17 Lohaghad EFMG Manau-7 Befu Tharu Installation of electric fence solar back up machine and supply of adequate repairing materials: Human-wildlife conflict in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park is in increasing trend since last few years. To minimize conflict and reduce damage made by wildlife, about 119 Km of electric fence is already being installed around the buffer zone and in Karnali river corridor since last five years of which 2.5 km fence is extended in Bagnaha VDC in this year. These days, the proper running of electric fence is challenging issues due to the loss of fence and ignorance of community for timely repairing. The past trend shows that conflict caused by rhinos and herds of elephant are drastically reduced whereas solitary male elephant still making problem especially for human causalities and house damage. Although electric fence is very effective to control wildlife entering into farmland and settlements, regular maintenance and supply of spare materials added burden for community. In this year, 5 additional power back up with energizer were installed in Bhaimmapur-8 Ishwarigunj, Patabhar-7, Bhatera, Shivpur-1, Motipur, Thakurdwara-5, Betahani and Thakurdwara-2, Gobrella with the support of International Elephant Foundation (IEF), Hariyo Ban Progrsam and AWELY France. The mechanism has developed for the allocation of spare wire, clips and nails from BCP on request of communities for the repair of fence. Similarly Geruwa BZUC, Gola also supported to replace existing old energizer with new one. The repairing materials were also purchased and kept at Banjariya sector office for the timely available of repairing materials across the Geruwa River. Similarly, the old batteries of Hattisar, Bankhet, sainwar and Manau were replaced with new batteries. The fence repair support provided in this year is presented in table 8.

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Table 8: Distribution of spare materials

S.N. Section Clip (pair)

Wire (kg)

Nail (kg)

insulator (No)

Batteries (No)

Energizer (No)

Back up machine

( No) 1 Bhaddkitandu -

Durganagar 200 2

2 Durganagar - Kailashi 725 14 8.5 3 Kailshi - Riverside hotel 482 15 5 1 4 Riverside Hotel-

Chitkaiya 180 3 1

5 Chitkaiya - Gobrela 280 98 7 1 6 Gobrela - Lathuwa 450 70 7 1 7 Lathuwa - Motipur 340 45 4 1 8 Ambasa - Balanti 200 2 15 9 Karmala - Ranipur-

Singabhini 750 188 8

10 Bhuriganu post – Sainawar

1250 880 5 1

11 Sainwar – Bagnaha 970 555 11 12 Naulo M 100 0.5 13 Divya M 990 80 5 14 14 Pashupati 3V 586 50 2 2 15 Kishan G 500 60 2 16 Janata G 500 80 1.75 17 Janaki 2V 400 70 2 1 18 Okhariya P 300 50 1 1 19 Hariyali P 950 225 5 8 20 Sarswati P 300 75 1 21 Bajpur M 200 50 1 1 22 Bhimapur 500 110 1 1 Total 11153 2717 98 24 4 1 5

Photo: Handing over of wire for the repair of fence to the focal persons

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Repairing of Watch towers and Formation of the Community Based Crop Protection Scouts: More than 120 watch towers were constructed adjoin the park boundary to scout the wildlife in the night for the protection of crop in the past years. Most of them are need to be renovated for the proper use. The existing 15 watch tower of Neulapur (5), Thakurdwara (4), Suryapauwa (2) and Shivapru (4) are renovated with the small support of International Elephant Foundation and AWELY Red Cap Program. We only supported for the materials need to be purchased from the market whereas repair work was done by the mobilization of community members. It will help to minimize the human wildlife conflict as the community members can use the watch tower for the guarding in night time too. The location of watch tower is presented in presented in table 9. Now 148 households get a chance to chase wildlife by guarding from the repaired watch tower. The community based crop protection scouts were formed by mobilizing the household who use the watch tower. They rotationally guard the tower for the protection of crop and property from elephant in all season and even night time the users can safely sleep on the tower made up of dead log. Table 9: Location of watch tower repair and maintenance

S.N. Group Name Address No of household use the tower Northing Easting

1 Motipur Shivapur-1 12 28° 30.900' N 81° 18.528' E 2 Lathuwa Shivapur -2 14 28° 30.633' N 81° 17.977' E 3 Khokarpur Shivapur-3 23 28° 30.031' N 81° 17.313' E 4 Tallobankhet Shivapur-7 8 28° 30.273' N 81° 17.335' E 5 Gobrela Thakurdwara-2 5 28° 28.540' N 81° 15.928' E 6 Chitkaiya Thakurdwara-3 18 28° 27.864' N 81° 15.623' E 7 Thakurdwara Thakurdwara-6 7 28° 27.018' N 81° 14.479' E 8 Shivapur Thakurdwara-9 5 28° 26.168' N 81° 13.707' E 9 Kailashi Suryapatuwa-3 17 28° 25.278' N 81° 13.447' E 10 Dalla Suryapatuwa-4 4 28° 24.775' N 81° 13.506' E 11 Karmala Neulapur-3 7 28° 28.266' N 81° 19.669' E 12 Karmala Neulapur-3 5 28° 28.323' N 81° 19.983' E 13 Karmala Neulapur-3 6 28° 28.453' N 81° 20.072' E 14 Karmala Neulapur-3 10 28° 28.639' N 81° 20.194' E 15 Karmala Neulapur-3 7 28° 28.884' N 81° 19.754' E (15) Total 148

Photo: Old watch tower Photo: renovation of roof of watch tower

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Distribution of torch lights: 45 units of torch lights were distributed to different electric fence maintenance groups in sever conflict areas. The torch lights are being used for the chasing of wildlife especially elephant in the night. The groups and farmers having torch lights are presented in table 10. Although it is very effective to chase the elephant in night, the replacement of batteries of torch light cannot afford by the local communities so it is not very effective for the sustainability of torch light in the remote village of Nepal. Table 10: Status of torchlight distribution in conflict prone areas

S.N Responsible Group/person Location Torch light (No)

Remarks/CFs

1 Sonahaphat EFMG Manau-1 Sonahaphat 5 Jaya bahadur shahi 2 Bhathera BZCF User's Group Patabhar- 7 Sarkhol 5 Lallu ram Tharu 3 Rajipur EFMG Patabhar-4 Rajipur 5 Janak lal Tharu 4 Guptipur EFMG Manau-2 Guptipur 5 5 Manau EFMG Manau-3 Manau 5 Binti ram Tharu 6 Bajpur EFMG Manau-9 Bajpur 5 Shyam lal Tharu 7 BanKhet EFMG Patabhar-7 Bankhet 5 Bejhu Tharu 8 Puni Ram Tharu Suryapatuwa, Dalla 1 Dalla CF 9 Jagnnath Yogi (Tharu) Suryapatuwa, Dalla 1 Dalla CF

10 Toyanath Chaudhari Suryapatuwa, Dalla 1 Dalla CF 11 Chijlal Tharu Suryapatuwa, Dalla 1 Dalla CF 12 Raja Ram Tharu Suryapatuwa, Dalla 1 Dalla CF 13 Shalik Ram Tharu Suryapatuwa, Dalla 1 Dalla CF 14 Padmakhar Neupane Thakurdwara, Hattisar 1 Shivapur-Bandrahawa 15 Ganesh Acharya Thakurdwara 1 Shivapur-Bandrahawa 16 Dal Bahadur Kami Thakurdwara 1 Shivapur-Bandrahawa 17 Nape Tharu Thakurdwara 1 Shivapur-Bandrahawa

45 9.3. Objective 3: To establish the long term human elephant conflict assessment program Mechanism for the regular human elephant conflict assessment is established in 8 VDCs of buffer zone of Bardia National Park with the support of AWELY France and International Elephant Foundation. Two staffs Mr. Rabin Chaudhary and Mr. Pradeshu Chaudhary (Red Caps) are regularly involved in the assessment of human wildlife conflict from Eight VDCs and providing supports to minimize wildlife damage. The data of human wildlife conflict seems helpful for the development of conflict resolution strategy and proposal development for the fund collection to implement conflict mitigation program in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park. The number of livestock predation is dramatically increasing, mainly leopards. The property damage by isolated male elephant is also increasing as it enters village to search the food grains in the dry period whereas the case of crop damage is tolerable as compare to other type of damage. The solitary males are very tough which ignore the fence where as fence is properly works for elephant herd and rhinos. Looking at the HWC data so far, all types of conflicts are increasing this year due to the increase of elephant and tigers in the Bardia. On the other hand farmers are not taking any care for the protection of crop, property and livestock from the wildlife. The electric fences constructed adjoin the park boundary was not caring well by local communities but the community are caring electric fence from the month of June due to our massive conservation awareness campaign and formation of electric fence management committee. Similarly community mobilized electric fence guard since the month of June. The HWC data of coming months shows the effectiveness of electric fence. The majority of crop is being damage by elephant. The crop

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raiding is highest when there is the main crop species (rice, wheat and maize) in the field. That means the wildlife are also attracted more towards the main crop rather than the subsidiary crops even the main crops are well protected with the electric fence. From the data it can also be seen that the property damage is highest when the main crop is harvested and stored inside the houses. The conflict event during the period of January to June, 2014 is presented in following figure 1.

Figure 1: Conflict status in Buffer Zone of Bardia National Park (January to June, 2014)

Photo: Isolated male elephant Photo: Property damage for grains

5 5

14

75

2

13

75

10

47

6

12 13

20

58

19

1 0 0 0 0 10 0 0 1 0 0

Jan-14 Feb-14 Mar-14 Apr-14 May-14 Jun-14

Human Wildlife Conflict Assessment

Crop raiding Property damage Livestock predation Human Injury Human Death

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9.4. Objective 4: To establish rapid medication fund for HEC victims A rapid medication fund has been established in National Trust for Nature Conservation for the immediate treatment of wildlife victims. The fund is being used for the treatment of local people injured by the wildlife including elephants. The fund has supported for the medical cost of five wildlife victims from the buffer zone of Bardia National Park of which one was deadly injured by crocodile while pulling his children from the mouth of crocodile; two were injured from rhinos and two were injured from the captive elephants. 10. Summary of progress The human elephant conflict minimization program is being implemented in the buffer zone of Bardia National Park with the support of International Elephant Foundation and other conservation partners since January, 2014. The local communities, Buffer Zone User Committees, Buffer Zone Community Forest Groups, Eco clubs, local school eco teachers, community youth members, women groups and park authorities are actively participating for the successful implementation of project. By realizing the community ignorance for proper use of electric fence, all the stakeholder realized the new strategy for the use of electric fence which shows the maximum people participation in our electric fence management campaign where 1480 local people living adjoin the fence boundary were participated. Within a short period of time 5 Buffer Zone User Committees are able to establish the fund for the purchase of repair materials and partial salary of fence guard. Similarly in the same five BZUCs 11 electric fence guards are mobilized for the proper caring of fence by dividing the working areas based on the coverage of power back up machine. In the same way focal persons, machine takes care persons and tole leaders are selected by the communities and they mobilize the local communities for the clearance of site if fence guard could not cover the areas. Similarly, in another part of park 17 transect are established for the intensive monitoring of fence. The electric fence management groups are being formed and mobilized for the timey repair of fence. The existing fence is upgraded by additional 5 power back machine and the old batteries are also replaced. A mechanism has been developed for the proper allocation and purchase of spare materials. The Street drama performance, community and school conservation education sessions increase the awareness level of local communities for the minimization of human wildlife conflict minimization and conservation of endangered wild elephants in its primary habitat. The existing 15 watch towers are maintained with the small support of project and maximum community contribution and being used by forming community based crop protection scouts. The rapid medication fund seems to be very helpful for the timely and accessibly treatment of wildlife injured people. The regular human wildlife conflict data shows the number of livestock damage by leopard and property damage by solitary male elephant are maximum. There are 2-3 solitary wild elephant which frequently enter into the village that damage the property by ignoring the fence whereas the crop and property are protected from herd of elephants and rhino after construction of fence. Mobilization of electric fence guards seem very effective in the month of June and the number of damage is less as compare to past still need to be observe damage of coming months. 11. Conservation outcomes: Local people are participating for the conservation of wild elephant in the parks. Although soilary male enters into the settlement, villages with the support of park authorities and local youths chased the wild elephant inside the park. Bardia National Park is becoming safe for the re-colonized population of wild elephant. There is no any record of poaching and retaliatory killing during the period of January to June, 2014. Villagers have totally stopped the grazing of cattle in the community forest for caring of electric fence. The repeated entrance of cattle destroy the fence so the users of six Buffer Zone Community Forest User Groups declared their forest as a free grazing control zone which is now become the major route for elephants movement.

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Photos: Using the community forest by wild elephant 12. List major findings and accomplishments to date: The major finding and accomplishments during the period are: Two street drama groups have been established. These groups organized street drama on human

wildlife conflict and its mitigation measures in 5 places where 2870 local communities watched the street drama.

26 community education sessions on human wildlife conflict mitigation measures were conducted from which 892 local communities are benefited.

315 students were participated in the 5 school conservation education sessions. Wetland day, world environment day, international women day, local traditional festival and

wildlife week were celebrated with varieties of activities and maximum local people participation.

31 electric fence management campaigns were organized in 8 VDCs with participation of 1480 local people living adjoin the fence.

Out of 119 km electric fence in Bardia, 99 km electric fence is properly run with the mechanism of regularly supply of spare materials, replacement of 4 old batteries and one energizer and setting up 5 additional powers back up for the 24 hour supply of power in the section.

In five VDCs, fence are regularly watched by 11 electric fence guard, timely clear of the fence by mobilizing the local communities by focal person and tole leaders, power back up machines are cared by the house owner, the salary of forest guard is collected from the villagers and the VDC level electric fence management fund is established for the purchase of repair materials in the future.

17 transect are established in additional 4 VDC for the proper monitoring of fence by NTNC staffs and electric fence management group was formed to mobilize the local communities for the clearance of site.

Sufficient spare material is purchased and being allocated on the request of focal persons.

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15 watch tower are repaired and used by the crop protection scout formed by the villagers living adjoin the park.

45 torch light were distributed to the users for the chasing of elephant in the night. The regular HWC assessment data shows the number of livestock depredation by leopard and

property damage by solitary wild elephant is maximum where as crop damage is tolerable. The study shows that electric fence fully work for herd of elephant and rhinos where as solitary male elephant enters the village by ignoring fence. The upcoming data shows the effectiveness of electric fence maintenance group and mobilization of electric fence guard to care the fence.

The immediate medication fund is established in National Trust for Nature conservation and 5 wildlife victims are getting immediate treatment with the use of fund.

13. Submit at least one video clip of the recipient discussing an aspect of the project and acknowledging the International Elephant Foundation and at least five high resolution digital images representative of the Project as separate individual files. Separately attached