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THE IWCS QUARTERLY NEWSLETTER.
Double Issue. May-August, September-December 2003
In Nepal,
where IWCS carries out its wildlife conservation programs, there are basically
two seasons. One is the dry season, which is November through May; the other is
the monsoon, or wet season, which is June through October. During the monsoon,
torrential rain essentially stops all projects; again, as this is the rice
growing season, it is often impossible to get labor. So, for the most part, IWCS
closes its operations in Nepal at this time, opening them up again in November.
Hence this combination newsletter, which includes the non-working summer period.
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Plans for the coming winter, some of which were detailed in the last newsletter, will consist of four major projects. These will include: One: Two new water catchments (like the Nilghai Water Catchments built last year) using old, winter-dry river beds. (See illustration below)
Two: Three new waterholes in the eastern part of the park, from water sources that will be fed by old, existing artesian bores found on the site of villages that were relocated outside the park when it was recently extended in that direction (See illustration below)
Three: The restoration of an abandoned and derilict lake, called Bhat Puri Lake, which due to the relocation of several villages under the parks expansion programs, now lies within the park. The lake will be cleaned of debris and dead brush and old trees, a broken bank will be repaired, its discharge channel will be redesigned and a spillway will be built to control the monsoon discharge. (See illustration below)
Three: Bhat Puri Lake, continued:
Work will also include the expansion of an existing waterhole in the central grasslands, the closure of an environmentally hazardous canal in the same area, and the design and implementation of an anti-fish poaching program. None of the above, of course, would be possible without supportive funding and we are delighted to say that once again the American Himalayan Foundation has stepped in and, with a substantial grant-supplementary to some of its grant monies left over from last season’s work-has once again funded the work of The International Wildlife Conservation Society. The society’s Executive Director, Peter Byrne-who this winter will be spending his fiftieth winter in Nepal-of which forty-seven have been in the White Grass Plains-will once again operate the projects in the field, starting in early November.
The American Himalayan Foundation, for its most generous and ongoing support of the society’s projects in far west Nepal. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife of Nepal, and its sterling Director General, Mr. Tirtha M. Maskey, for interest and support of the society’s work in the Nepal Terai. Ms. Holly Hines, of Atlanta, Georgia, Member of the IWCS Marketing Board, for her great enthusiasm and assistance in the society’s fund raising efforts. Ms. Karen Gough, of Atlanta, Georgia, Chairperson of the IWCS Marketing Board, for her contributions to fund raising and her continued support of the society in its work. Mr. Tom Dadras, of Los Angeles, for once again most kindly assisting us in the design and implementation of the IWCS web site. Ian and Carol Kay, of Denver, for their ongoing efforts on behalf of the new safari lodge. |
Probably the most successful of last season's projects
was the Hidden Springs waterhole. Monitoring sources report to us
that elephants now use it regularly, as well as tiger and Swamp Deep, the new
pool being located at the edge of the grasslands of the park, wherein live the
1500 plus animals of the WGP Swamp Deep
herd. On the right is a picture of the new waterhole, which, as was explained in
previous newsletters, is fed by a powerful and perennial spring, from deep
underground.
