Eastern Himalayas

Greater one-horned rhinos start 2012 on a positive note.

WWF helps nations of the Eastern Himalayas lay foundation for regional response to climate change.

The nations of Bhutan, Nepal, India and Bangladesh have signed a regional climate change adaptation declaration that will allow collaboration on energy, water, food and biodiversity issues.

A new program called Hariyo Ban aims to help the country in its struggle against climate change and threats to biodiversity

Today honors the legacy of WWF employees and leaders who lost their lives in a tragic helicopter accident in 2006.

A new wildlife taskforce — the South Asia Wildlife Enforcement Network (SAWEN) — will significantly boost efforts to crack down on wildlife crime in the region, according to World Wildlife Fund (WWF). The coordinated body was created during a meeting between the eight South Asian countries last week in Bhutan to protect species across the region from poaching and illegal trade.

As many Asian countries prepare to celebrate Year of the Tiger beginning February 14, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) reports that tigers are in crisis around the world, including here in the United States, where more tigers are kept in captivity than are alive in the wild throughout Asia. As few as 3,200 tigers exist in the wild in Asia where they are threatened by poaching, habitat loss, illegal trafficking and the conversion of forests for infrastructure and plantations.

Over 350 new species including the world’s second smallest deer, a “flying frog” and a 100 million-year old gecko have been discovered in the Eastern Himalayas, a biological treasure trove now threatened by climate change.

World Wildlife Fund stressed the need to renew tiger conservation efforts in response to the government of Nepal’s announcement of an estimated 121 breeding tigers in four protected areas in the Terai Arc Landscape of Nepal.

Utah Resident Apa Sherpa unveiled a banner on the summit of Mount Everest today telling the world to take urgent action on climate change and save his native Himalayas. The banner containing the WWF message – "Stop Climate Change, Let the Himalayas Live!" was unveiled as he summited Everest for a record 19^th time.

World Wildlife Fund (WWF) is alarmed by the dramatic decline of at least 30 percent in the Bengal tiger population of Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal, once a refuge that boasted among the highest densities of the endangered species in the Eastern Himalayas. The recent survey of April 2008 showed a population of between 6-14 tigers, down from 20-50 tigers in 2005.

World Wildlife Fund mourns the loss of global explorer Sir Edmund Hillary, who conquered Mt. Everest but never forgot the people of the Himalayas who made his accomplishment possible.

Kathmandu -- World Wildlife Fund has awarded scholarships to four promising Nepalese conservation students in memory of the 24 people who perished in last year's Himalayan helicopter tragedy.

WASHINGTON - Coffee lovers the world over are unknowingly drinking coffee that was illegally grown inside one of the world's most important national parks for tigers, elephants and rhinos, according to an investigative report released today by World Wildlife Fund (WWF). Illegally grown coffee from Indonesia is mixed with legally grown coffee beans and sold to such companies as Kraft Foods and Nestle among other major companies in the U.S. and abroad.

Washington - The following statement is attributable to Carter S. Roberts, president and CEO of World Wildlife Fund (WWF) in response to the news today that a helicopter carrying several WWF staff members and high level government representatives was reported found in Nepal with no apparent survivors.

"WWF was notified this morning that a helicopter traveling in Nepal with seven WWF staff on board has failed to arrive at its destination. The Shree Air helicopter had 20 passengers and four crew and was transporting passengers back from a conservation site at Ghunsa, in the far-east mountains of Nepal. In addition to the WWF staff members, passengers included government officials from Nepal and Finland along with representatives of organizations including USAID."

Washington - Nepal's Government today turned over conservation of the wildlife and habitats surrounding Kanchenjunga -- the world's third highest mountain -- to a coalition of local communities. World Wildlife Fund was instrumental in the decision and will work on its implementation for the next five years.

Washington - Results released today by World Wildlife Fund of the first assessment done in two years in one of Nepal's premier national parks reveal an alarming decline in tiger and rhino populations, indicating widespread poaching. The area only became accessible for visits since the ceasefire between the Maoist insurgents and government troops a month ago.