By A Staff Reporter
Kathmandu, Dec. 25: Increasing wildlife deaths in road accident in national parks and conservation area has sounded alarm among the conservationists.
As many as 108 wild animals died in road accidents in three major national parks -- Bardiaya, Parsa and Banke -- in the fiscal year 2019-20, according to the annual report of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
In the fiscal year 2019-20, a total of 591 wild animals died in 16 national parks and a conservation area.
Of the total deaths, 108 were caused by road accidents and 437 by natural causes, said the report.
A total of 35 wild animals in Bardiaya National Park, 15 in Parsa National Park and 48 in Banke National Park, died in road accidents.
In addition to touching some areas of Banke and Parsa National Parks, the East-West Highway passes through the core areas of Bardiaya National Park.
According to the report, one and two wild animals died in road accidents in Chitwan National Park and Koshi Tappu Conservation Area respectively.
Apart from animals’ deaths, 33 persons were killed, 67 nominally and 110 severely injured in wild animals’ attack.
Similarly, 439 wild animals were rescued, and compensation worth Rs. 16.6 million was distributed to the people affected by the wild animals’ attacks.
Likewise, 2,608 people were arrested for their involvement in several forest and wildlife crimes, said the report.