This year’s hunting tourism has started in the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve (DHR), the only legal hunting area in Nepal. Commercial hunters from abroad have started arriving in Dhorpatan to hunt the wild animals like blue sheep and Jharal (Himalayan tahr).
The DHR has deployed staff and porters for the hunters in the respective blocks for making necessary arrangements and guiding the hunters. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has permitted the hunters to kill seven blue sheep and five Jharals this year.
Hunting tourism will continue from October 19 to throughout November this year.
Birendra Prasad Kandel, Chief Conservation Officer of the DHR, said that hunters from France, Ukraine, Mexico and Russia will come in the first season through Nepal Travel Expedition, Himalayan Safaris, and other companies.
In the first season, hunting will be done at Shed, Fagune, Ghustung, Dogadi and Sundaha blocks.
According to Kandel, hunting is done in two phases in the Dhorpatan area every year.
The first phase begins from October to November and the second season will start from February to April.
Professional hunters fly to the reserve in helicopters to hunt the animals.
Last year in two seasons, 18 blue sheep and nine Jharals were killed.
Expensive and adventurous hunters are interested in hunting in the remote blocks. The hunting team spends 15 days in the forest.
The DPNPWC determines the hunting quota and revenue rate by inviting electronic bids in each hunting season.
Dhorpatan has become an attractive destination for foreigners for adventurous travel and exciting hunting experience.
Amrit Thapa, a hunting tourism entrepreneur, said that a hunter spends around Rs. 2 million or more during the hunting period.
Source : TRN,
