Second Hunting Season Begins in Nepal’s Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve

The second hunting season of the year has begun in Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve, Nepal’s only designated hunting area. This season, 35 wild animals, including 13 Himalayan blue sheep (Naur), 10 Himalayan thars (Jharal), and 12 wild boars, are permitted for hunting.

The Department of Wildlife and National Parks had invited bids for hunting permits in early February, granting licenses to six companies: Himalayan Wildlife Outfits Pvt. Ltd., Tracks and Trails Pvt. Ltd., Himalayan Safaris Pvt. Ltd., Global Safaris Nepal, Nepal Travel Expeditions, and Open Nepal Wildlife Safaris.

Authorized hunters have started arriving in various blocks of the reserve, where hunting will continue until the end of April. According to Ranger Sagar Subedi of the Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve Office, two Himalayan blue sheep have already been hunted. Among them, one was hunted in the Sundaha block by 70-year-old Marcos Olaizola Alcorta from Spain. This season has attracted hunters from the United States, Argentina, Spain, and France.

The permit fees for hunting range from Rs. 625,500 to Rs. 800,000 per animal, depending on the species. Chief Conservation Officer Chandrashekhar Chaudhary reported that Rs. 12.6 million in revenue has been collected from this season’s hunting permits.

Dhorpatan Hunting Reserve opens for hunting twice a year. The first season falls between Asoj and Mangsir, while the second season takes place between Falgun and Baishakh. The controlled hunting program aims to balance conservation efforts with revenue generation, ensuring sustainable management of wildlife populations in the region.