The family of senior nature guide Manmohan Chaudhary, who tragically lost his life in a rhino attack, has been provided with financial relief. The incident occurred last Friday in the Shiva Community Forest, located in Madhuwan Municipality-1, Bardiya.
Chaudhary, a 37-year-old resident of Thakurbaba Municipality-9, was leading American tourist Shawn McC through the jungle when he was attacked by a one-horned rhino, a protected species in the region.
In response to the tragedy, Minister for Forests and Environment of Lumbini Province, Badshah Kurmi, handed over a relief amount of NPR 100,000 to the victim’s father, Tiduram Chaudhary, through Senior Forest Officer Ramkumar Chaudhary of the Bardiya Division Forest Office. The relief was part of the provincial government’s support program for affected families.
Minister Kurmi expressed his condolences to the grieving family, describing the incident as a heartbreaking reminder of the dangers posed by wildlife during eco-tourism activities. He emphasized the need for all levels of government to work together to address the ongoing human-wildlife conflict in the area. The minister also pledged to ensure the remaining relief for the victim’s family would be processed promptly.
Meanwhile, the Ward Chairperson of Madhuwan Municipality-1, Min Thapa, stressed the importance of community support for the children of the deceased. He urged the provincial government to develop long-term solutions to mitigate the human-wildlife conflict in the region, which has resulted in significant loss of life and property over the years. Thapa highlighted the challenges posed by the Khata Biological Corridor and the areas of Pattharbojhi and Bhageriya, which link two major national parks and remain hotspots for wildlife-related incidents.
This incident underscores the ongoing challenges faced by communities living near protected areas, where human-wildlife conflicts are a persistent issue.