CHINA BOUND FRESHWATER TURTLES CONFISCATED- PAKISTAN

The Gilgit-Baltistan Forest, Wildlife and Parks Department seized 34 freshwater turtles in Sust border that were being smuggled to China. The turtles were later released in the river and the smuggler was penalized PKR 2000. During the last eight years smuggling of freshwater turtles is on its peak due to increase in demand in Chinese restaurants.

9 October

http://bit.ly/UhPDXt

MORE BLACK NECKED CRANES ARE VISITING BHUTAN

The nation wide survey on Black-necked cranes has reported that winter migration of these birds to Bhutan has increased by 20 percent. The study conducted early this year recorded 335 cranes (highest count) in Phobjikha, 102 in Bumdeling, 5 each in Bumthang and Khotokha and 12 in Paro, Lhuntse and Gelephu. Phobjikha has seen 179 percent growth in the number of birds visiting the valley in the last 26 years.

8 October

http://bit.ly/RMny51

RHINO HORN SMUGGLERS HELD WHILE ITS KILLINGS CONTINUE- INDIA

Acting on a tip-off, the police arrested a poacher and six alleged rhino horn traders in Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts of Assam. The traders were returning after a failed talk with the militant outfit who were demanding IRS 8 million for the horn. In another incident, the poachers gunned down an adult rhino in Agoratoli range of Kaziranga National Park and decamped with its horn.

13 October

http://bit.ly/XBjKIf, http://bit.ly/XBjM2N

POACHING SOARS AS FESTIVAL NEARS- NEPAL

With Dashain around the corner, wildlife poaching has gone rampant in Jajarkot District, west Nepal, to meet the growing demand for meat. A local said at least 10,000 animal traps had been laid in the forest areas. For forest authorities it is an uphill battle to keep tab on these poachers with limited human resources.

14 October

Kantipur

PROJECT FINED FOR FAILING TO MEET ENVIRONMENTAL COMPLIANCE- NEPAL

Ministry of Energy has fined a sum of NRS 100,000 to a developer of Charnawati Hydropower project for violating environmental act. The project dug a tunnel instead of using pipes to pump water from the canal which is against the Initial Environmental Examination (IEE) provision.

13 October

The Himalayan Times