Sachin K Pokhrel /Pokhara, 4 July

The zoological park in Pachabhaiya, Lekhnath, situated between the well-known Begnas and Rupa lake is comparable to any national park; the surroundings, the setting, and the animals fulfill all of one’s desires. Locals claim that the five Pandavas visited the area while they were in exile, which is where the name Pachabhaiya came from. The park was established a few years ago by the local government and the forest department with the intention of turning it first into a zoo. However, they later came to the conclusion that housing the animals in a confined area would not be a good idea.

“The intention of the zoological park is to safeguard and preserve the animals in and around the province.” said the Manager of the Park Binay Adhikari.

When asked about how they will preserve the biodiversity, Adhikari said “If there are experiences of  any sort of human-wildlife conflict where the animals are displaced, are an orphan or have faced any sort of violence are brought here and are treated here which in itself helps in preserving biodiversity”

The manager also said that the zoological park is not meant for domestic animals like dogs and cats but for wild animals who have had any sort of injury and need immediate attention. Pokhara has seen changes in the climate and has seen heavy rainfall recently which has led to landslides and floods it surely is a concerning factor for the wildlife in and around Nepal. When asked about how the authorities are going to tackle the problem of climate change Adhikari said “Climate change does not directly impact the wildlife but it affects the animals indirectly, climate change displaces the animals from their distributional areas.” He also gave an example of how the leopards have now shifted from the middle of the hills to the upper Himalayan range to adapt to the climate.

The zoological park is funded by the government and there is direct involvement of the government but there surely are not enough efforts made by the government in this sector, Adhikari thinks that “the federal government, the provincial and the local government should come together and work on this sector” he also thinks that the budget allocated for this sector is not enough for the development that is needed.

The park’s goal is to provide wounded or abandoned wild creatures with a sense of belonging. It is also anticipated that the park would increase tourism in the near future.  “The length of stay of the tourists is expected to increase and with tourism, the socio-economic development of the region will also take place,” says the manager, he also shared about how he wants everyone to protect the wildlife and treat animals fairly and realize that they also have the right to live like humans.

Adhikari also shared how people can contact them through their Facebook page (Pokharazoologicalpark)or contact the forest department for any queries or help.