Photo: S. Bhattari with killed snake (head & body)

23rd October 2008 Morning, a group of people caught a snake and cut off its head in the Forestry Collage (Collage belongs to Nature and Wildlife conservation), Pokhara, Nepal. What a shame story happening on conservation oriented collage arena?

The snake was taking rest on its own habitat and people were collecting firewood in that place.  Though the snake is not aggressive and hampering people,   they killed it with considering the misconceptions of “It will be bad-luck to look snake in Kartik month (Nepali calendar)?” The guy, who stroked on it, became enemy with this species when this species cut his mother 4 or 5 years before.

PARC’s Team Leader, S. Bhattarai, requested people not to kill but they aggressive people did not hear his voice.  PARC’s Team leader, Suman Bhattarai, shared the importance of the snake and their values in nature and ecological balance with these people. He also briefed out the misconceptions of “Bad-luck to look a snake in Kartik Month?”

He questioned who were hampering others (Snake or people)? Lastly, People realized that they were disturbing snake and destructing its habitat and they feel regret for doing cruel work. And, they make understanding on themselves not to kill snakes and save them for nature balance.

After the half-hour briefing, people involving in killing tried to join Snake’s head with the body part but unable. This concluded that Suman Bhattarai was enabled to create awareness amongst those target people.  It resulted that the conservation education will foster the education. That is why; the main duty of conservationist is to educate people.

As per our regular schedule of collecting lakes’ information, we visited Phewa Lake on 1 July, 2008. Phewa Lake was found  polluted, most part of the lake was covered with water hyacinth and other unwanted (invasive) weeds. It also found that people were bathing, washing, fishing, grazing & swimming. There was huge distrubed on the free boating and swimming.

There was also the mass of plants were placed on the way to Temple (Tal Bahari). We felt that it is year of high water hyacinth's pressure. 

By visiting two ecologically important lakes; Bis-Hajari in Chitwan and Phewa in Kaski of Nepal, we realized that  water hyacinth  is today's main problem. That is why, PARC like to request you all people (local and global) and allied agencies to put contribution for wetland existence. If these events (polluting) continued, there will be lesser chance to make benefit from these wetlands/Lakes.

With coming mosoon,  Bis-Hajari Lake (Ramsar Site) is found more polluted. most part of the lake was covered with water hyacinth and other unwanted (invasive) weeds. During the season, it becomes hard to see the free water zone in the lake. 

Though it is the yearly phenomenon, the conservation steps should be carried out to restore the habitat of wetland biodiversity. Therefore, it became uttmost need to do some conservation activities to alive lake as Ramsar site.

"Strengthening community based conservation approach for sustainable management of Rupa lake ecosystem" Rufford Project, celebrated the World Environment Day- 2007 with the slogan “Melting Ice – A Hot Topic?

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