I am John Doe Web Designer Photography

Sanchaman Tamang was walking near the bus park in Jorpati on the afternoon of 20 February. Tamang, who seemed to be looking for someone, had been alert for 4/5 days and was trying to find a new job. In other words, Tamang Helambu (Sindhupalchok), a canteen worker from Jorpati for the last 7 years, had only come to Kathmandu for the last 5-7 days. As soon as he came from Helambu, his activities returned. Meetings and conversations were also different.

On the same occasion, a piece of information was leaked to the Central Investigation Bureau (CIB) of Nepal Police. While searching based on the same information, Tamang was arrested from the bus park of Jorpati on February 8.

DSP Mahendra Khadka of the CIB's Wildlife Smuggling Control Poll said, "4 kg and 800 grams of salmon was found with Tamang. Further investigation is underway."

It has not been revealed from the investigation who brought the fish from Helambu for whom and how much to get the price. Since the hunting of wild animals is illegal, it is not fixed or uniform. Prices fluctuate depending on consumer demand, tight security, and availability.

Based on the unofficial price in the Nepali market, Tamang had a salak worth around Rs 200,000. It is unknown at this time what he will do after leaving the post.

A month before Tamang was arrested in Jorpati, Kathmandu, three people were arrested in western Nepal with tiger skins. Patebagh's skin was recovered from Yam Bahadur Rana of Salyan, Surnit Ramja Budha, and Ramit Sunar from Tulsipur Bus Park in Dang on January 12, 2006. The CIB had received information five months ago that some people, including tiger skins, were looking for customers. The CIB was active based on the same information.

After five months of activism, three people were arrested, including a tiger skin, but others associated with them escaped. Their contact, dialogue, and business efforts are being investigated. A photo of the tiger skin in the Banke National Park with them confirmed that it belonged there, but it was not clear where it was killed or where it was being sold.

The two incidents that took place a month apart are just two facts that Nepalis are connected to the wildlife hunting and smuggling network. The smuggling wire in Nepal is connected not only to China, Vietnam, India, Turkey but also to Africa. Why is wildlife trafficking an organized crime? As it is used not only as a hobby of some business houses but also for medical purposes, it continues to increase illegal trafficking.

A group of Vietnamese businessmen has gathered at Hanoi's most expensive restaurant to celebrate with their new American partner. Someone offers 'toast'. They pick up their expensive glasses filled with scotch. There is powder sprinkled. It is neither gold powder nor pure cocaine. This rarely found powder is very expensive. In fact, it is a powder of white rhino horn.

Such a scene of unimaginable banquet from the ground up is not unique and expensive, for Vietnam. According to Michelle Mayer of Nairobi's Aga Khan University, one rhino was killed every eight hours for its horns. The smuggler killed an elephant every 30 minutes for its teeth. The same was true of Havigat, even of the rare salak. Every 5 minutes, a squirrel was losing its life for the sake of it. Two tigers had to lose their lives in a year.

Four years ago, Mayer wrote to Project Syndicate to show why wildlife parts are being trafficked and who is consuming them, rather than showing Vietnamese sanctuary and capacity. The incident of March 27, 2019, in Vietnam is shocking. That day, Vietnamese customs seized more than nine tons of ivory. This was one of the largest seizures of illegally smuggled wildlife parts.

According to various international reports and conservationists, 76 tonnes of ivory were recovered in and around Vietnam in a decade (2008-2018). At least 11,414 elephants should be killed for 76 tons of ivory. Asia in particular is a major consumer of wildlife. China is also the largest consumer. The name of Vietnam is also added. The exporter of those countries in Africa. More than 80 percent of wild animal skins, teeth, flesh, and testicles, especially from China and rhino horn, are consumed in Vietnam.

The white rhinos, which were in large numbers in Africa five decades ago, now number only about 25,000 in Namibia and Kenya. The number of elephants, which was around 20 million 50 years ago, is now around 470,000. Moreover, the number of tigers has dropped to less than 4,000. According to Save the Rhino International, 1,215 rhinos were killed by poachers in South Africa last year alone. In 2007, only 13 were killed.

Madhav Khadka, senior manager of the World Wildlife Fund Nepal, also admits that there has been no reduction in the international market for wildlife smuggling. "Rhinos are dying in Africa while hunting is celebrating zero years in Nepal," says Khadka.

Conservationists: On March 27, 2019, the market value of 9 tons of ivory seized in Vietnam was estimated at ४० 4 million a year. Elephant tusks are sold in the Asian market at around ५ 1,500 per pound. And, rhino horns cost more than हजार 45,000 per pound. According to the Wildlife Trade Monitoring Network, rhino horns cost up to लाख 100,000 per kg, up from डलर 250 in 1990. Smugglers bring an African elephant to an Asian country, earning up to २१ 21,000. These figures are enough to show the income and economy of illegal trade.

According to a study by various international organizations, the economy of illegal wildlife poaching and trafficking is worth at least US$ २३ 23 billion a year. This amount is almost double Nepal's annual budget. According to Hemsagar Baral, Nepal's representative to the Zoological Society of London, poaching, and trafficking of wild animals are the fourth largest crime in the world. "After drugs and weapons, wildlife is traded," says Baral. "Nepal is also seen as a transit point." There is a fact that not only the bark of the bear but also the bile of the bear without the musk, the skin of the tiger, the hair from the hair of the chimpanzee to the chimpanzee has been traded from Nepal. Exports from Nepal to China and India, of course, come to Nepal even from Turkey.

The smugglers who have developed into institutional criminals have started using not only sophisticated weapons but also helicopters. As in previous decades, the use of local weapons has changed the way wildlife is hunted. Not only smugglers and government officials but also conservationists are involved in this. Smugglers use locals in particular. The example of Prince Praja is enough for this. In Chitwan National Park, rhinos were killed using people who were well-versed in wildlife, and their horns were smuggled.

When the people were arrested in Malaysia on 16 January 1971, Nepal's conservationists considered it a great success. Similar success was achieved when Kalu Manage was arrested. Madhav Khadka of the fund says, "Kalu Manage and Rajkumar Praja are the biggest examples of those involved in smuggling." Amchi (Tibetan doctors), especially the hunters of wild animals, use it to make traditional medicine. The increase in smuggling is also due to the Chinese government's recognition of it.

Rhino horn is mainly used for fever control and problems caused by food poisoning. In some cases, it is also used for sexual arousal. Most of the tiger's limbs are used. Bone is also used to make wine.

At the political level in Nepal, there is protection and involvement in the smuggling of some people who are involved in the Tibetan trade, occupying the northern region.

Illegal hunting of wild animals for the purpose of traditional medicine seems to be linked to the legitimate economy through invisible means. This assessment suggests that China has temporarily banned the import of wildlife hunting due to the coronavirus that spread from Wuhan four months ago. Wildlife poaching and trade nets are also used as other means of crime. Proceeds from wildlife smuggling are also being used for arms smuggling. Khadka, senior manager of the World Wildlife Fund Nepal, agrees with the economic cycle of crime. "One crime seems to be linked to another," he says. Khadka recalls that a few years ago, then-US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton said that wildlife smuggling money was spent on arms smuggling.

Why is there so much illegal hunting of wild animals? Basically works for medicinal purposes and decorative hobbies. The main markets for that are China and Vietnam. In addition, the market is dominated by courtiers, aristocrats, and sophisticated merchants. Looking at the example of Nepal, the horns of the rhinoceros, the mustache of the tiger, the horns of the rhinoceros, the lion's palace, and the Narayanhiti palace were adorned with ivory. Moreover, members of the royal family used wildlife to smooth out bilateral signatures. That would have strengthened the smuggling.

Organs including rhino horns, tiger mustache, and horns of rhinoceros decorated in Singha Durbar have been smuggled. A few months ago, when a team led by Ram Narayan Bidari, a member of the National Assembly and chairman of the Delegated Arrangements and Government Assurance Committee, arrived for a study, the organs decorated at a British meeting inside the old office of the Prime Minister and Council of Ministers were stolen.

The theft not only shows the extent of the smuggling network but also conveys the message that lucrative wildlife is a lucrative source of income.

Difficult to sneak in: Security personnel can't reach the smuggler's inner net in a hurry. The involvement of organized crime is so secretive that it is difficult for the security personnel to get from one level to another. For example, even in the case of Nepal, it has not been possible to reach the second level from the citizens who have been arrested for hunting various wild animals. According to the latest CIB data, wildlife smuggling from Nepal is declining. Khadka, senior manager of the World Wildlife Fund Nepal, agrees that it is difficult to get from one level to another during research.

Not without some major operations. Nepal Police had investigated the smuggling between Nepal and China up to four levels. Meanwhile, police had arrested Kalu Manage, a high-profile smuggler involved in rhino horn smuggling. Not only has the long and deep network worked to prevent wildlife crime from reaching the second tier, but it also has an impact on various inland trade. Former DIG Hemant Malla says, “Trilateral relations of Nepal, India, and China are linked to wildlife smuggling. In a way, the flow of information to China is blocked, which makes it difficult to reach the second tier involved in crime. ”

There is a lot of investment in wildlife conservation. Not only the NGOs involved in conservation but also the World Bank and the European Commission have been active in recent days. The World Bank published the Illegal Wildlife Trade Report, which analyzes wildlife trafficking as a challenge to ecosystems, cultural and economic heritage. The Global Environment Facility Fund, Germany, the United States, the European Commission, and the World Bank spent ३ 1.3 billion on 24 international donors for wildlife conservation and promotion between 2010 and 2016. Asia and Africa spent 190 million a year. According to the World Bank, wildlife is not only interdependent with economic, cultural, and ecological systems but also creates jobs for developing countries. They are also the engine of tourism and the cornerstone of sustainable development. In the first week of October 2019, a high-level meeting of about 30 countries was organized by the Peruvian government. The meeting not only decided to spend १० 10 billion a year on wildlife conservation but also emphasized cross-border cooperation in controlling trafficking. "Wildlife smuggling is the fourth largest illegal trade in the world," Peruvian Agriculture Minister Jorge Montenegro told the gathering.

The reason Latin America is hot is linked to the biodiversity of the region. That is, Latin America accounts for 40 percent of the world's biodiversity. There are 25 percent rare species.

In the case of Nepal, legal measures have been sought to control wildlife smuggling, as well as awareness efforts. According to CIB DSP Khadka, wildlife smuggling in Nepal has been declining in recent days. As not only national but also international law is attracted, the morale of those involved in smuggling is also low. "Since most of those arrested are jailed, the number of people involved in smuggling seems to be below. Smuggling from Nepal has come down since the CIB started its investigation, ”claims Khadka.

Nepal, China, Vietnam

Nepal is seen as a transit point for wildlife poaching. International gangs export from Nepal to China, Japan, Vietnam, Cambodia, India, and other countries. According to CIB officials, mainly Chinese exports from Nepal.

Some hunters also enter Nepal from Turkey and Africa and its main market is China and Vietnam. India's wildlife reaches China via Nepal. Chimpanzees/monkeys also leave Nepal. Yari of Darchula, Hilsa of Humla, Korla of Mustang, Kerung of Rasuwa, Tatopani of Sindhupalanchok, Kimathankar of Sankhuwasabha and Olangchungola of Taplejung are used for smuggling to China.

According to former DIG Hemant Malla, Nepal-India-China relations are increasingly linked to crimes related to wildlife smuggling. “There are more brokers involved in wildlife smuggling in Nepal. Wildlife is hunted in India and exported from Nepal to China, ”says Malla. In some cases, smugglers also misuse helicopters and airlines. Well, the world's airlines have decided not to transport wildlife parts. On ships, on the other hand, there is a lot of transportation.