Heart of the Jungle

The lusk valley of Chitwan in Nepal is a magical place, a wildlife Paradise where dense forests and brilliantly coloured grasslands contrast vividly with the dazzling backdrop of snowy himalayan peaks. But not long ago the valley was threatened with takeover by humans in search of living space, and much of its indigenous wildlife was on the verge of extinction. K.K. Gurung, naturalist and manager of  Chitwan´s Tiger Tops game logde, tells how the valley has been preserved as a wildlife conservation park and how many endangered species have been saved, despite the initial reluctance of the local people to protect the animals they traditionally regard as enemies. Today the Royal Chitwan National Park welcomes some 8,000 visitors a year, who travel from all over the world to see the magnificent tigers, leopards, rhino, deer, crocodiles and other creatures which once more inhabit the valley.