Prince William also present in the Vietnamese capital to raise public consciousness about the fate of the species at risk of extinction. Kathmandu optimism: "We will reach the targets set four years ahead of time".
Hanoi (AsiaNews) - Experts from around the world gathered yesterday in Hanoi to discuss the protection of wildlife, particularly tigers. Even the British Prince William was present in the Vietnamese capital to raise public consciousness about the fate of the species at risk of extinction.
Among concerns and alarmism, representatives of Nepal revealed that the population of tigers in the country has already increased by 70% and that Kathmandu will reach the targets set four years in advance.
Minister of the Environment, Shankar Bhandari, said that "if all goes well, Nepal is ready to double the tiger population by 2018, four years before the deadline set for 2022. And if we can safeguard tigers, we can also easily protect other species of animals. "
The tiger is one of the animals most at risk of extinction, with fewer than 4 thousand specimens (of which more than half in India). A century ago, the population amounted to 100 thousand individuals. In 2010 in St. Petersburg, 13 countries that are home to big cats in their territory - including Vietnam, Russia, Thailand and Indonesia - have united in a worldwide task force (the "TX2") aiming to double the number of tigers by 2022. Kathmandu’s aim is to rise from 121 specimens to more than 250.
Despite the good results obtained from Nepal, the experts point out that problems remain. Maheshwor Dhakal, deputy director of the Department of National Parks, said: "The lack of a census carried out with scientific methods and coordination between the various neighboring countries, makes doubling the tiger population more difficult."
Kanchan Thapa, a biologist with WWF Tigers, confirms the optimism of the Nepalese government: "If we maintain this spirit of conservatism in all areas where the tigers are at risk, we will reach the goal by 2018. Other countries are worried by the decline of tigers, but in Nepal there's already been a 70% increase ". This result was achieved mainly thanks to the control of poaching.