chain free means pain free the lambodhar prasad project; free … · 2017. 1. 8. · elephant aid...

ElephantAidInternational-P.O.Box106–Hohenwald,TN38462-931-796-1466

www.ElephantAid.org-elevisions@gmail.com

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

www.ElephantAid.org-elevisions@gmail.com

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