CHITWAN NATIONAL PARK, Dec 14 - On the surface, Mikania
micrantha, locally known as "miles a minute", looks just like
any other useful plant that adds spectacular greenery to the
surrounding. But, this creeping weed, which was until 1993
alien to Nepal, has earned enough notoriety for destroying the
grassland of endangered wild animals like rhinoceros and deer.
Rapid spread of this unwanted weed has forced authorities
to gear up for its elimination, as its spread - as authorities
and experts point out - has been closely linked to recent
killings of rhinos on an unprecedented scale.
Conservation Officer at Chitwan National Park (CNP),
Govinda Prasad Upadhyaya, says the "rapid spread" of this weed
has disturbed the original habitat of animals such as deer and
rhinos by replacing the natural food of endangered wild
animals' .
This plant has a bitter-sour taste which rhinos or deer
can't tolerate, and it also covers the grazing field. So, for
survival, according to Upadhyaya, they cross the core area of
the park and move to the nearby community forests, which are
very much frequented by poachers. "Controlling the rapid
growth of this prolific plant species has been a challenging
issue for the park management authority," adds Upadhyaya.
Going by past instances of rhino poaching, out of 10 rhinos
poached in the last five months, nine of them were killed in
community forests. And, four of the dead were poached at a
single place.
District Forest Officer Baburam Ram Bhandari says, in most
cases, rhinos entering community forests are almost certain to
be killed.
Officials say the spread of the notorious plant is not only
limited to CNP, but it has also spread in the wetlands of
Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, adding more danger to the
already endangered animals.
The history of Mykania Micrantha is not very old. According
to a research conducted by Lalit Prasad Kattel of the
Department of Plant Resources in 2003, it is not yet confirmed
from where this invasive species came to Nepal. Upadhyaya
believes that the plant was first seen after a massive flood
in the Rapti River in 1993. Seeds of the plant, which is a
native of Central and Latin America, might have been brought
here by the flood.
"The growth rate (of the plant) is rapid due to its huge
resistance to all unfavorable conditions and it has encroached
the area within a short span of time" says Upadhyaya.
In order to control the spread of this weed, the National
Park Management team with the coordination of locals has
started the process of biological control. "We have motivated
locals to cultivate ginger to check the spread of this plant,"
adds Upadhyaya, "this could prove a significant control
measure."
However, the impact of biological control is yet to be
seen.