chain free means pain free the lambodhar prasad project; free … · 2017. 1. 8. · elephant aid...
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ElephantAidInternational-P.O.Box106–Hohenwald,TN38462-931-796-1466
ChainFreeMeansPainFreeTheLambodharPrasadProject;FreeNepal'sChainGang
PROJECTREPORTDecember2016
photo:LambodharPrasad,wildcaught,heldinchainsfor57years
PILOTPROJECTOVERVIEW
A4-acre,customizedsteelpipe,doublechamberenclosurethatprotectsLambodharPrasadfromtheattacksofwildbullelephantsandensureshewillremainchainfreeevenwhileinmusth.Filledwithnaturalvegetationforshadeandforaging,hygienicnaturalsubstrateforfoot,jointandskinhealth,aholdingpenformahoutsafety,afoottrimmingwallforfootandveterinarycareandfreshwaterfordrinking,bathingandplaying.
ElephantAidInternational-P.O.Box106–Hohenwald,TN38462-931-796-1466
PROGRESS
May2015:NegotiationsbetweenElephantAidInternational(EAI),USAandtheNepalDepartmentofNationalParksandWildlifeConservation(DNPWC),Nepalbegan,tocreateanalternativetochainingcaptive-heldbullelephants.
Negotiationscontinuedduringtheconstructionandcompletionof54solarpoweredchainfreecorralsforallfemaleelephantsheldbyDNPWC.Thesolarpoweredcorralsweredesigned,underwrittenandinstalledbyEAIandhaveproventobeaneffectivealternativetochainingfemaleelephants.Specificallydesignedforwildlife,thecorraladministersamildnonlethalshockuponcontact.Unfortunately,thesameapplicationcannotbeusedforbullelephantsastheirivorydoesnotconductelectricity.
September2015:Mr.PhidindraRajKharel,DNPWCDirectorGeneralgrantedKamalKunwar,ChiefWardenofChitwanNationalPark(CNP)permissiontocollaboratewithEAItopursuetheproject.
December2015:RepresentativesfromEAI,DNPWC,WorldWildlifeFund,TheZoologicalSocietyofLondon,NationalTrustforNatureConservation-NepalandtheNepalArmymetinKathmandu,Nepal,todiscusstheproject.
February2016:SeveralperspectivelocationsinChitwanNationalPark(CNP)wereidentifiedandscoutedfortheproject.
April2016:Dr.KumalGairhe,DNPWCHeadVeterinarian,formallyagreedtoparticipateasanconsultantforlocationidentification,designandelephantmanagementfortheproject.
May2016:theDNPWCissuedalistofacceptableMoUcandidatesforEAItopartnerwith.
June2016:EAIenteredintonegotiationswithCNPBufferZoneCommittee(BZC)fortheMoUwhichisrequiredbeforeproceedingwiththeproject.
September2016:DuetocivilunresttheMoUthatwasscheduledtobesignedbetweenEAIandBZCinKathmandu,Nepalwasputonhold.AllDepartmentofNationalParksandWildlifeConservations(DNPWC)projectswereputonholduntilthegovernmentisstableagain.
October2016:Electionswereheld.Anewpoliticalpartyisinpower.Appointmentstoalldepartmentsareunderway.
November2016:TheDirectorGeneralofDNPWCwasappointed.EAI'slocalrepresentativeisindiscussionswithnewDGtoschedulethesigningoftherequiredMoU.WiththeDG'sauthorizationthelocationwillbedeterminedandmaterialsandengineerwillbeimmediatelysourced.
March2017:Constructionslatedtobegin