Acharya, the director of Friends of Nature-a youth-led social and environmental organization - has been working in owl conservation for the past three years. [break]
According to the Hall of Fame’s website, there was limited research on the status of owl in Nepal until Acharya’s efforts were highlighted, the site elaborates
Among several other efforts that involve owl conservation, he has conducted awareness programs focusing on the bird’s importance for an agrarian country like Nepal and is also helping schools to form eco-clubs. Currently, Acharya, 40, is also working to produce a field guide concentrating on the owls of Nepal.
A graduate in Environmental Management, Tropical Forestry and Agro-forestry, Acharya worked as a natural resource conservation assistant in the Annapurna Conservation Area Project (ACAP) for ten years.
About the award
The Fame’s website states that the World Owl Hall of Fame award is to bring public recognition of the owls and humans who have contributed to make the world a better place for owls.
The Lady Gray’l Award (for owls), the Champion of Owls Award (for humans), and the Special Achievement Award (for humans) are the three types of awards that are given out every year.
The Special Achievement Award was introduced in 2008. This award is for humans who have made significant contributions to owls through a specific project or for efforts in a specific geographic area.
In an email interview with Republica, Acharya talked about his future projects, challenges and his conservation works.
Tell us how you started working on owl conservation?
Before working on this particular specie, I was involved in vulture and pheasant research in the highlands of Nepal. And I had always wanted to contribute to a field that others were unaware of. In the meantime, I met Champion of Owls Award recipients Tony Wharburton from the UK and David Johnson from the US who encouraged me to work.
Isn’t owl a common bird?
If you look at their global status, owls are common. But they are important for a country like ours whose economy depends on agriculture. For instance, one Barn Owl consumes 3,000 mice during one season. Indirectly, they contribute to crops production.
Please brief us about your work.
We’ve established permanent sites in Manang and Mustang to monitor owl in the future. In Mustang, people keep parts of owls in their homes believing that they chase away evils. There still is a belief that people get severe illness or die if owls cry near their homes.
And researches show that 3% of the people of the region believe that owls are ghosts. People are found to be consuming owls’ eggs and meat to recover from asthma.
Apart from researches, documentation on ethno-owl and document hunting, we’ve conducted more than 200 awareness camps covering nine districts of the country.
Which parts of Nepal have you traveled so far? And how is the status of owls?
I’ve visited 16 districts of the Terai Arc Landscape (TAL) and also Manang, Mustang, Myagdi, Tanahu, Dhading, Chitwan, Sankhuwasabha, Rasuwa, Dolkha, Ramechap, Kaski, and Lamjung.
We don’t have any specific data; therefore, it’s very difficult to say anything about the birds’ status in Nepal. However, hunting and trade of the specie is widespread, and people are involved in stealing owls’ eggs and consuming the meat.
Challenges that you faced while working in the particular area?
Receiving funds, mainly from Nepal, has been a major challenge. Apart from it, the government’s and other organizations’ works are mainly focused on and limited to saving popular endangered species of animals and birds.
Enlighten us on what the government is doing for owl conservation.
The government has a bulk of conservation programs, but lacks in specific species programs.
For instance, the government has impressive TAL program but isn’t specific when it involves birds like owls. This may be because of the limited government budget and the country’s political instability.
What should be done to draw the attention of people and the stakeholders to the conservation of birds like owls?
Along with media-based conservation efforts, animal or other conservation organizations should prioritize research works. And also some species of owls should be kept in the protected list. TheEurasian Eagle Owl is one, for instance.
Your future plans?
I’m really interested in establishing an owl hospital in Nepal and develop it also as a conservation education center.
The centre will treat injured owls as well as other birds and release them to nature, and also breed them if they are globally threatened.
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