According to Trishna Thapa of WWF, Shrestha will help promote conservation, mainly among the youth. But the irony is Shrestha will represent Nepal in the Miss World finale decked up in a gown festooned with peacock feathers. [break]
Ornithologist Hem Sagar Baral informs that the trade of peacock feathers is illegal in Nepal.
Eight hundred peacock feathers ornate the gown according to designer Uttam Banepali who claims to have done prior research before preparing the dress.
"As I wanted to work on ´Save the Environment´ theme, I used nettle fabric that was especially made for the gown in Khandbari, Sankhuwasabha," the designer adds, "To make it different, I opted feathers over regular beads. But before incorporating the feathers, I researched because I feared that feathers were illegal."
Banepali is confident that the feathers were imported from India and are not illegal. "I heard that the feathers were sold only after the peacocks shed them off." He bought the feathers in Patan. Peacock feathers are found to be sold at different places within the capital.
On the contrary, the Indian government also has a ban imposed on the sale of peacock feathers. Several Indian news portals report that though the traded feathers are thought to be naturally fallen, it couldn´t be the case as the demand of the feathers are high and naturally molted feathers are said to not meet the demand. Poaching and killing is thus bound to occur and the government formulated the law of banning the trade.
According to ornithologist Baral, even if peacock feathers are traded within Nepal, permission should be taken from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC). He points out that DNPWC and Department of Forest Conservation shares the responsibility to monitor such issues.
"As there are a lot of aspects involved in it, the government should be stricter regarding such issues," commented former Miss Nepal Jharna Bajracharya Rashid on the issue.
When asked whether Shrestha was given an orientation on conservation issues by WWF, Trishna Thapa informs, "During Miss Nepal´s grooming session, all participants were give orientation on the issue." However, as Shrestha was busy with her Miss World preparations and had to leave for China early, WWF could not provide proper mentoring after her crowning.
Thapa informed that WWF was unaware about the particular matter and is of the opinion that Shrestha might face public scrutiny. "But if the issue is brought into Shrestha´s notice, she will not wear the gown."
Bhupal Kakshapati, the representative of The Hidden Treasure, the organizer of Miss Nepal was not available for the comment.
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