Poaching refers to the illegal killing, catching or hunting of the wild animals for various reasons. Poaching is mainly done for commercial purposes, make personal gain or get satisfaction for the illegal acts and to make traditional medicine as well in some countries. Ivorys, skins, horns, paws, eggs and so many parts are poached and traded at high cost internationally. Because of many inter-liking and networks spread over all over world it has become very difficult to enforce laws against poaching.

Nepal consist more than 5,000 species of flowering plants, 181 species of mammals, 844 species of birds, 185 species of fishes, about 635 species of butterflies and more than 2252 moths. 3 species of reptiles, 9 species of birds and 27 species of mammals are protected in Nepal. Among them Asian Wild Elephant (Elephas maximus), Royal Bengal Tiger(Panthera tigris tigris) and one Horned Rhinoceros(Rhinoceros unicornis) are found in Chitwan National Park( oldest national park which is as well listed in UNESCO World Heritage Site). These three animals are most vulnerable for poaching and among them one horned rhinoceros is more prone to poaching.

But, we have goods news for all animal lovers, environmental conservationist and those who are against poaching. Nepal has marked 2013 as no poaching year and its about to happen same in 2014 if all goes well. In fact this is not the first year Nepal has marked no poaching year. In 2011 there was no poaching at all. While to slight disappoint to conservationist and government, in 2012 one rhino was killed.

According to 2011 census, 534 rhinos are found up from 425 in 2008 and the trend is at increasing rate. Thanks to the effort of various Government officials, Police, Armies, I/NGOs like WCN, WWF, IUCN and local people, we have achieved the goal of conserving our animals.

If i have to tell my personal story, I often visit national park as its very near to my home. I used to rarely see Rhinos but nowadays every time i visit i get to see often so many rhinos some eating the grasses some resting and some taking care of calf. its so enchanting.

Lets hope we can make hat trick and then even celebrate 10 years without poaching.

Finally, let?s go all of us against poaching, avoid killing such rare animals, intensify our bio-diversity and make our earth heaven.