Pond built to reduce human-wildlife conflict (Photo feature)

Pond built to reduce human-wildlife conflict. Photo - Amar Raj Naharki

The Rising Nepal
11 May, 2021

By Amar Raj Naharki, Tanahu, May 11: A pond built in the forest area in Tanahu has become a medium to manage the conflict between humans and wildlife.

Conflicts between wild animals and humans have been reduced in the settlements nearby forest areas where ponds have been constructed.

"After the ponds have been filled with water, the wild animals have not caused any violence. The pond has become a way out to minimise human-animal conflicts," said Komal Raj Kafle, head of the Division Forest Office, Tanahun.

According to Kafle, there has been no forest fire in the area this year since the construction of the pond. Birds have been able to quench their thirst, while the increase in greenery has made it easier to manage the diet of grass-eating species.

Conflict management has become easier as the Division Forest Office has helped in the conservation and construction of ponds in Tanahundhara, which has helped wildlife to stay in the forest.

According to the Division Forest Office, 18 ponds have been constructed in the current fiscal year to reduce the human-wildlife conflict as wildlife have started coming to human settlements in search of water.

Kaf le said that 15 ponds have been constructed in Bhanu Municipality, one in Bhimad Municipality, one in Bandipur and one in Devghat. He informed that the pond was constructed at Rs. 1.25 million allocated by the forest office.

Kafle said that the locals have constructed three more ponds in Bhanu despite the grant given for the construction of 12 ponds.According to the forest office, the construction of each pond is meant to manage the water sources in each season for wildlife, conserve biodiversity, climate adaptation and significant contribution to human-wildlife conflict management.

A pond is being constructed in the forest after the leopards entered the settlement to quench their thirst. In three years, 10 children have been killed and nine people have been injured in Tanahun in a tiger attack. According to Kafle, the forest office has also been planning to manage food for the wildlife.