Butwal, August 23
The Division Forest Office, Arghakhanchi, is set to issue district hunting permits for wild boar, red deer and spotted deer for the first time in Nepal.
The office published a notice on Friday inviting applications from interested Nepali citizens for the permits.
According to the office, the district hunting permits will be issued under Rule 9 of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Rules, 1973.
Keshar Khadka, information officer at the office, said the provision is being implemented to allow hunting of wild boar within the limits prescribed by law, amid increasing crop damage caused by the growing wild boar population in the district. Permits will also be issued for hunting red deer and spotted deer, he said.
Interested Nepali citizens can submit applications to the Division Forest Office by August 26 in the format prescribed in Schedule 3 of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Rules, 1973, Khadka said.
According to Khadka, no one will be allowed to hunt wildlife without obtaining a permit. He said the permits are being issued under the special authority granted by law, taking into account the increasing wildlife population and growing damage to farmers’ crops.
He said the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act and Rules grant forest offices the authority to issue district hunting permits within the prescribed procedures and limits. Although the legal provision exists, it has not been effectively implemented in the district, and preparations are now underway to enforce it.
Applicants must also pay the prescribed government revenue under Schedule 1 of the rules. The office said a district hunting permit costs Rs 7,000, while an additional Rs 10,000 is required to hunt two wild boars.
Under the rules, hunting will be permitted only within the approved quota for each specified species of animal or bird. An individual may not be issued a district hunting permit more than once in a year.
The office said all hunting-related procedures must comply with prevailing laws, regulations and conditions prescribed by the office.
