One Horned Rhino >> Legal Provision

Some sort of provision to control wildlife poaching had begun long before the establishment of the protected area. After a visit to Europe, Jung B. Rana made legal changes in which a provision was made to fine Rs. 200 for rhino poaching (Tiwari 2002). Similarly, the Muluki Ain 1992 banned the cutting of trees in the forest corridors of elephant and rhino. In 1957, His Majesty the Government formed a Wildlife Protection Act, especially for the protection of rhino and its habitat.

Furthermore, in 1973, the National Park and Wildlife Conservation Act (NP&WCA) came into effect and provided legal authority to the warden to protect the wildlife and habitat within Parks and Reserves. From 1973 to 1993, the Act has been amended four times to make it more effective.

The latest amendment states "offenders dealing in poaching and illegal trade of endangered wildlife species and their body parts can get a stiff penalty of 5 to 15 years jail or Rupees 50,000 to 1,00,000 in fine, or both".

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation is a member of the Convention on International Trade of Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES). DNPWC has established a CITES unit and initiated coordination meetings with concerned stakeholders.

The concept of buffer zone of sharing park revenue and providing forest resources to local community also anticipates control of illegal activities through social mobilization.