Source::NepalNews
The first season for licensed hunting of Naur, Jharal, and wild boar has commenced in Nepal's only Dhorpatan hunting reserve. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has authorized the hunting of 12 Naur (Himalayan blue sheep), eight Jharal (Himalayan Tahr), and 11 wild boars for this season. An Australian citizen, hunting with the Nepal Travel Expedition Company, has become the first to successfully hunt a Naur, marking the start of the season, which involves four licensed companies.
According to Pemba Sherpa, a senior management officer at the reserve, 12 foreign hunters have acquired hunting permits through these companies this year. The department has set minimum fees for hunting: Rs 150,000 for a Naur, Rs 75,000 for a Jharal, and Rs 10,000 for a wild boar. Companies obtain hunting permits by bidding above these minimum fees, with the highest bids this season reaching Rs 1.2 million for a Naur and Rs 725,000 for a Jharal.
Birendra Prasad Kandel, Senior Conservation Officer of the Reserve Office, reported that a census conducted in 2021 recorded 1,290 Naur and 744 Jharal in the reserve. Established in 2044 BS, the Dhorpatan hunting reserve spans 1,325 square kilometers and is home to 32 species of mammals and 164 species of birds.
Picture Credit: Himalaya Guide Nepal
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