गोविन्द पोखरेल
हरेक वर्षको फेब्रुअरी २ तारिखका दिन विश्वव्यापी रूपमा सिमसार दिवस मनाइँदै आइएको छ । यो वर्ष सिमसार र परम्परागत ज्ञानमा आधरित नारा रहेको छ ।
नेपालको सिमसार नीति, २०६९ ले प्राकृतिक तथा कृत्रिम रूपमा पानी जमेर वा बगेर,अस्थायी वा स्थायी रुपमा बनेको दलदल क्षेत्रलाई सिमसार भनेर परिभाषित गरेको छ । सरल भाषामा भन्नुपर्दा सिमसारमा न पानी सुक्छ न त जमिन नै लुक्छ ।
A few months ago, a mesmerizing black leopard at Nepal’s Central Zoo took social media by storm. But behind those viral photos lies a deeper, more urgent story about survival. In the December of 2025, I wrote ‘The Melanistic Mystery of Leopards’ on Diplomat Nepal.
Contrary to popular belief, these aren’t a separate species. They are common leopards with a genetic mutation called melanism. While beautiful, their increasing presence in districts like Ilam and Kavre isn’t just luck—it’s a warning sign. In this article I tried to explain how habitat fragmentation and urbanization are pushing these species out of the forests and into human settlements.
Gobinda Prasad Pokharel
When we think of diplomacy we usually picture suits, handshakes and conference rooms. But in Nepal, diplomacy has stripes.
I recently came across an article on Diplomat Nepal titled ‘The Roar of Nepal’s Tiger Diplomacy’. I couldn’t stop thinking about it. We often hear doom and gloom stories about endangered species, but Nepal is writing a different narrative one where conservation isn’t just about saving animals. It’s about national pride, international relations and economic survival.
कुनै समय थियो जतिबेला बाघ मार्नु भनेको गौरव हुन्थ्यो । सन् १९११ मा बेलायती राजा जर्ज पञ्चमको नेपाल भ्रमणका क्रममा केवल एकै दिनमा ३५ वटा बाघलगायतका वन्यजन्तु मारेको अभिलेख छ । नेपालका राजारजौटाहरूले वन्यजन्तुको शिकारलाई एउटा शान र तागतको रूपमा लिन्थे ।
तराई क्षेत्रमा भएको अधिक वन विनाश र शिकारका कारण कुनै समय नेपालमा बाघको संख्या एक सयभन्दा कममा झरेको विगत छ ।
Gobinda Prasad Pokharel
It was the second week of Chaitra, 2072 (March 2016), Prince Harry of the United Kingdom was on a rafting trip along the Khoriya River in Bardiya. Bird expert Hem Sagar Baral, wildlife expert Shanta Raj Gyawali, nature guide Rajan Kshetri and others were accompanying the trip. Baral had brought two expensive binoculars made by Swarovski. Aware of the etiquette and formalities needed when meeting a member of the royal family, including appropriate language and dress, the team was cautious. However, Harry stood out as different from other royal family members.
Farmers in Madhuwan Municipality at Bardiya were frustrated as their crops were repeatedly destroyed by elephants, wild boars and other wildlife. Despite multiple attempts human-wildlife conflict persisted. In response to this issue National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) linked this conflict with opportunity.
