STAY COOL AND VISIT NAWALPARASI

by with No Comment Temple Tiger
KIRAN LAMA NAWALPARASI:
Most people yearn to come out from their monotonous and routine lives, but only a few get on their feet to actually escape from the monotony and head for an adventurous voyage. Because when you travel, you not only witness geographical changes but also experience various cultures, traditions and lifestyles. Indeed, as Saint Augustine said it, “The world is a book, and those who do not travel read only a page.” 
Of late, Nepalis have started to travel within the country during their holidays. The breathtaking view of the Himalayas, hilly areas for trekking and river-based adventure sports are the main attractions for domestic as well as international tourists whenever they visit different places of Nepal. However, many might not know that wildlife tourism is also thriving in Nepal. A recent media trip organized by the Temple Tiger Green Jungle — a resort located in the buffer zone of Amaltari Ghat, Nawalparasi, was an initiative to spread awareness about wildlife tourism in Nepal. 
The warm hospitality by Nawalparasi residents is sure to pull you back to the place. Based on the trip, here are a few activities that you can indulge in whenever you visit Nawalparasi.
Tharu cultural dance
 
When visiting the southern plains of Nepal, one must experience the traditional Tharu dance to have a glimpse of the unity in diversity that exists in the country. The indigenous Tharu community, though rich in culture, usually do not get much attention by the tourists. But their majestic traditional dance is usually one of the main attractions at any tourist hotspot in tarai. The bhajayati dance (performed with long sticks) and thakera dance (performed with short sticks) can be rejuvenating when you’ve had a long day. 

 

Boat riding on Narayani River
 
A boat ride organized by the Temple Tiger on Narayani River was one of the most adventurous experiences during the trip. The flow of one of the deepest rivers of Nepal while watching gharial crocodiles will take to an adrenaline-fueled voyage. Similarly, the sighting of migratory birds can be as relaxing as a meditation session. 

 

Jeep safari at Chitwan National Park
 

 

Only lucky ones get to see tigers during their safari rides. But don’t worry that your ride would be worthless because you can always count on seeing barking deer, spotted deer, one-horn rhino, peacock and wild boar among other wild animals. Wildlife expert and Operational Manager of Temple Tiger, Ambika Prasad Parajuli, had briefed us about different wildlife, flora and fauna at the Chitwan National Park. 

 

Elephant riding
 
Though elephant riding is a part of fun and games when you are visiting various national parks as well as conservatories in the country, the sport is often times considered as against animal right. Some even argue that it is cruelty against the tuskers that they are harshly trained to act in certain ways. Executive Chairperson Of Temple Tiger Group, Basanta Raj Mishra, held a table discussion about whether elephant riding is against animal rights or not.According to Mishra, if elephant rides are banned in Nepal, the move will hit the tourism industry hard. He added, “Moreover, if elephant riding is banned, the tamers, elephant riders as well as other people assigned to take care of elephants will lose their jobs. However, keeping elephants is also an expensive task. It costs about Rs 50,000 per month to sustain an elephant and a mahout,” shared Mishra. He added, “In comparison to other countries, we don’t use elephants for circus or other activities. And during the rainy season, jeeps aren’t useful for a safari ride due to muddy roads. So elephant ride is a suitable option in the context of Nepal.”

Jungle safari operators demand regulations

by with No Comment Temple Tiger

Amid increased activism by global animal rights activists against elephant ride, jungle safari operators based in Chitwan and Nawalparasi have demanded that the government come up with a regulations with minimum conditions to be fulfilled for using elephants for tourism and wildlife conservation.
Stating that elephant is a crucial part of Nepal’s wildlife tourism and conservation, they said banning their use completely would have an adverse impact on tourism, which is one of the major contributors to the national economy. At the same time, it would also hamper conservation efforts, and put at risk the livelihood of elephants in captivity.
Amid increased pressure from rights activists, leading travel companies across the globe have stopped selling elephant rides and shows. These activists are reaching out to global consumers and tour operators persuading them not to buy/sell packages selling elephant rides and shows.
However, Nepal-based elephant safari operators have termed the advocacy against elephant ride a ‘one-sided story’. “We all agree that animal cruelty should be stopped. But are we inflicting cruelty on elephants?” asked Basanta Raj Mishra, executive chairman of Temple Tiger Group. “We do not use elephants for circus or games such as tug of war as in other countries. We are simply using elephants for tourism and wildlife conservation.”
According to elephant safari operators, tourism also provides livelihood to elephants in captivity. They say these elephants are not only earning money for the tourism business, they are also earning for themselves.
At least two individuals have to be employed to look after one elephant. The animals need around 150 kg of food and 150 kg of water every day, including 15 kg of paddy and sugarcane molasses every day. On top of that, they also need regular veterinary services. On an average, owners to spend Rs 50,000 to Rs 60,000 per month per elephant. There are an estimated 200 to 250 elephants in captivity in Nepal.
“Chitwan National Park is not just a bush forest, there’s riverine forest, grassland and sal forest, among others. If we only use vehicles for jungle safari, we cannot see much farther. So if tourists do not see anything, why would they come? And if visitors stop coming, tourism collapses, and no one will pay for the elephants’ fodder,” said Mishra. “Besides, our elephants feed on right type of grass on the banks of Rapti and Narayani rivers and drink fresh water of these rivers. There’s no cruelty. And research has proven we have not mistreated our elephants compared to other countries.”
The ban on elephant ride would also put at risk investment of billions of rupees in hotels set up specially for wildlife tourism around Chitwan National Park. The move could also result in scores of people being jobless, as one tourist is estimated to create 13 jobs in Nepal. And since tourism is one of the major source of foreign currency in Nepal, it could ultimately affect the national economy, according to them.
Operators say banning elephant ride would also affect conservation efforts. “It is said poverty is the biggest enemy of conservation,” said Mishra. “Our conservation efforts have been successful because of four factors — tourism, army patrolling, local community and national park authority. There are checks and balances. If we take elephant out of equation, everything will collapse.”
The Nepali Army also uses elephants for patrolling the national park during monsoon as roads are washed away by rains.
Tourism operators, however, said that they could not entirely dismiss the concerns raised by animal rights activists, and expressed readiness to reach a ‘compromise’. They suggested that they could lower the working hours for elephants, lower the number of people riding on elephant from four to two and eliminate the practice of tying elephants by their feet and leave them free.
But for that, they want the government to speak up and come up with regulation stating clearly the minimum things the owners should do to keep elephants for tourism and conservation purposes. “The government should either support us or take all our elephants and feed them. But if we need to protect the national park and wildlife tourism, elephant ride is mandatory,” he said.

 

“Save Wildlife Tourism, No abuse of elephants in Nepal”

by with No Comment Temple Tiger
Amaltari ( Nawalparasi) : Travel trade entrepreneurs have urged the government to introduce guidelines for using elephants in the jungle safaris , so that wildlife tourism could be protected in the country.
International animal rights groups have called on the governments and international organizations around the globe requesting a ban on elephant rides.
The groups, expressing their concern for the plight of elephants, have requested all the stakeholders to prevent cruelty to these intelligent and social animals.
Chitwan National Park, established in the subtropical southern part in 1973, is rich in species of mammals, birds, fish, flora and fauna. CNP is renowned for its protection of One Horned Rhinoceros, Royal Bengal Tiger and Gharial Crocodile.
There are 125 tigers, 605 rhinos and 140 elephants inside the park and buffer zone. The number of captive elephants is estimated to be around 250 in the country, including the elephants used by the government for patrolling the national parks.
An elephant costs up to Rs 8 million and expenditure per month is between Rs 50 000 – 60,000 for food and medical care of an elephant.
Chitwan National Park is one of the most preferential tourist destinations in Nepal.
According to Basanta Raj Mishra, Executive Chairman of the Temple Tiger Group of Companies, Nepal is pioneer in jungle safari in Asia and regarded as ‘Africa of Asia’.
Temple Tiger has been at the forefront of nature and wildlife tourism for more than three decades. It operates Green Jungle Resort in the buffer zone area of Amaltari Ghat of Nawalparasi district.
“We are very much aware of international campaign against animal cruelty and committed to responsible and sustainable tourism. Wildlife tourism, hotels and resorts operating in the buffer zones of national park have been protecting the animals including giant elephants. The elephants are highly respected and accredited to helping save national parks and wildlife there. We have not abused the elephants, nor we have used them in circus entertaining the people. The elephants are used only for protection of national park and tourism purposes. We are very much sensitive to their food , medical care and habitat . There would be no importance of national park without elephant safari in Chitwan,” he said.
The hotels and resorts have invested billions of Rupees to operate safaris in the buffer zones of the national park during the last five decades.
Hundreds of local people are benefited in the area due to activities of jungle safaris and income generating programs.
A large number of homestays are developed in Amaltari and other buffer zone areas as thousands of domestic tourists are attracted to elephant safaris every year.
Mahout Mahendra , involved in the elephant safari since the last 35 years , said they regard the elephants as God and care for their food and good health .
Jungle safari operators in Chitwan and Nawalparasi have requested the government and concerned bodies to set the necessary guidelines for safety of the elephants and protection of wildlife tourism, rather than controlling the activities of elephant-back safaris.
“We respect the concerns of international activists, but request the government and all the concerned agencies to find the solution for protection and development of wildlife tourism in the country. We can introduce a balanced guideline for elephant-back safaris and urge the government to take initiatives for protection of wildlife tourism for overall development of national tourism industry ,” Mishra added.
Travel trade entrepreneurs have requested the government to find solutions to promote responsible and friendly elephant safaris keeping in view the international campaign.
‘This initiative will protect wildlife tourism and contribute in attracting 2 million tourists in the coming years.’

Temple Tiger Green Jungle Resort

by with No Comment Temple Tiger

The Asian Elephant or Asiatic Elephant (Elephas Maximus) is the only living species of the genus Elephas and is distributed in Southeast Asia from Nepal and India in the west to Borneo in the east. Asian elephants are the largest living land animals in Asia. Three subspecies are currently recognised: the Sri Lankan Elephant, the Indian Elephant and the Sumatran Elephant.
The average shoulder height of females is 2.4 m and average weight is 2.7 tons, while average shoulder height of males is 2.75 m and average weight is 4 tons.
The distinctive trunk is an elongation of the nose; the nostrils are at its tip, which has a one finger-like process. The trunk is a highly sensitive multipurpose prehensile organ and contains as many as 60,000 muscles.
Tusks serve to dig for water and minerals; to debark and uproot trees and as levers for maneuvering fallen trees. It is also used for display and as weapon for offense and defense. Elephants are either right or left tusked. Female Asian elephants usually lack tusks; a small tusk like tooth can sometimes be found, known as “Tushes”.
Asian Elephants are highly intelligent and self-aware. They have a very large and highly convoluted neocortex, a trait also shared by humans, apes and certain dolphin species. They exhibit a wide variety of behaviours, including those associated with grief, learning, mimicry, play, altruism, use of tools, compassion, cooperation, self-awareness, memory, and language.
Elephas Maximus has been listed as Critically Endangered by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) as the population has declined by at least 50 percent over the last three generations, estimated to be 60–75 years. Asian elephants are primarily threatened by degradation, fragmentation, loss of habitat, and poaching (for their Ivory).