Himalayan Times of last week:
Even more shocking was a report in today's Himalayan Times that states the central zoo is looking to relocate to an area that will allow it room for expansion. The locals out in lovely Godawari are pitching to provide a suitable site, the argument being that Godawari is already home to such a fabulous range of flora and fauna (which it is). So what better case can there be to concrete over a lot of it and turn it into a haven for moronic day trippers to come and tease - or as I have personally witnessed in the past throw stones at - caged animals? So often I have heard dewy-eyed Nepalis wax lyrical about the beauties of their nation. But I think in many ways it takes an outsider who has seen around a bit to appreciate just what a special place this is with its rich ecology. And maybe it needs an outsider to help educate the locals who see it as their birthright to do what they will in the midst of Nepal's beautiful fragility.
