Kedarnath, once a haven for Nepalese nationals, has now turned hostile for them, following a forest department diktat that no Nepalese national will be allowed to enter the Kedarnath wildlife sanctuary. The decision was made after the forest department caught 38 Nepalese labourers involved in a massive poaching operation near Gaurikund in September last year.

Following interrogation, the forest department realised that the area was under constant environmental threat from labourers of Nepalese origin as they were involved in large scale felling of trees like birch and juniper and poaching of several endangered species of fauna in the region.

According to an estimate made by the local range officer, Mahipal Singh Rawat, more than 55 quintals of wood was being illicitly sold every year by Nepalese labourers and most of the wood being cut was oak. He further estimated about 15 to 25 hectares of forest was being disturbed each year in the area because of rampant felling and indiscriminate grazing of mules.

The Kedarnath forest division spans a huge area of about 1,54,521,75 hectares that includes not only the entire Mandakini valley but also parts of the Alaknanda valley and even such far flung regions such as the Lohawa range which was earlier part of the Western Almora forest division.

It is said to cover an area of 120 kms in length and 431 kms in width. In 1997-98 the area was declared a separate wildlife division as it huge tracts of reserved forests within forests, meadows and peaks within its boundaries.

Considered a biological diversity hotspot, the sanctuary is home to a number of endangered fauna including the Himalayan musk deer, the Himalayan thar, the serow, the snow leopard, the Himalayan black bear and a large variety of pheasants.

According to available information there are about 150 species of endangered birds in this region. Unfortunately they are hardly sighted these days.

According to sources in the forest department, "outside elements'' like Nepali labourers and members of the Juari tribe from Pithoragarh were coming in large groups and were involved in widespread poaching activities with the tacit support of the local population. Among the animals that were rotuinely targeted include the musk deer, snow leopards, leopards and the black bear.

District Magistrate UD Chaube said the district administration was keeping a tight check on all Nepalese nationals who were required to maintain proper identification to remain in the district, during this season.