Nepal, the small Himalayan country that likens itself to a yam caught between two stones with China to the north and India to the south, has been able to achieve 365 days of zero poaching twice: in 2011 for rhinos, and for 12 months ending February 2014, for rhinos, tigers and elephants.



“Nepal proved to the world that zero poaching can be achieved," said Dr. Barney Long who leads species conservation at WWF-US. "This took incredible commitment from the highest levels in the government right through to frontline conservation heroes like rangers and community antipoaching patrols. WWF is proud to be an ongoing partner to the government of Nepal in the fight to prevent poaching and we are confident that all of Asia will rally towards the goal of zero poaching. It can be done.”



In February 2015, Nepal will host the first symposium focused on getting to zero poaching. Delegates from more than 13 Asian countries representing conservation agencies, police and prosecution services will share best practices, tools and technologies that can be used to respond to the poaching crisis.



What Nepal can teach the world about how to get to zero poaching: