Pokhara. ‘Now it seems like, if I don’t go to the forest for a day and don’t see wild animals, I forget something, something is missing and the animals are waiting for me.’ For Alina Chaudhary, who has been working as a ‘nature guide’ in Chitwan National Park for three years, the forest has become not only a workplace, but also a source of peace and satisfaction.
Her daily routine is now spent guiding domestic and foreign tourists to observe nature and wildlife.
‘What else can be more enjoyable than giving tourists information about our nature and wildlife while facing all these discomforts, challenges, and difficulties and seeing the happiness on their faces?’ Alina says, ‘Every moment spent with nature is priceless, knowing how to feel it is a joy.’
Since her childhood was spent near the forest, encounters with wild animals were common for Elina. The chirping of birds in the morning, the touch of cool breeze, and the joy of greenery brought her closer to nature. This passion inspired her to become a nature guide professionally.
After formal training as a nature guide, she started her journey from Barahi Jungle Lodge in Meghauli, Chitwan. Nowadays, her daily routine is sometimes as a boat safari guide, sometimes a jeep safari guide, and sometimes as a guide on ‘jungle walks’, depending on the schedule of tourists.
A little more challenging is the jungle walk. Alina says, ‘You never know when you will encounter a wild animal, you are afraid, but the excitement within that fear is the beauty of a jungle safari.’ She said that a nature guide should have the special art of protecting wild animals along with knowledge of the diversity of nature.
Alina, who received her nature guide certificate in 2019, has been making confidence, courage, fearlessness and knowledge her strong points. Alina was also able to win the international ‘Tough-Tigers Lodge Naturalist of the Year 2024’ award for her contribution to wildlife conservation, sustainable tourism and women’s empowerment.
She is also the first Nepali woman to win this title. Alina has many memories of spending time with tourists. One of those incidents is fresh in her memory.
‘A month ago, a Nepali tourist came for a jungle safari. He had never had the opportunity to see a tiger in 12-15 jungle safaris before. That day, coincidentally, he saw a tiger while I was guiding. He was so emotional with joy that he started crying.’ Elina says, ‘Why, I couldn’t even ask. Perhaps, his long-standing dream of seeing a tiger had come true.’
With many experiences, Elina’s daily routine is spent interacting with nature in the jungle and riverbanks. The daily life of 23-year-old Sudiksha Kumal, whose house is near Chitwan National Park, is also similar.
Kumal, who is in her third year of graduation, has been interested in nature and wildlife since childhood and decided to become a nature guide after taking inspiration from her older sister. ‘My older sister is also in this field. With her inspiration, I also took training as a nature guide. I got the opportunity to work in wildlife conservation and close to nature,’ she said.
Active in the tourism sector for two years, she has been informing Nepali and foreign tourists about the biodiversity, wildlife conservation and environmental balance of Chitwan National Park. Nature guiding was not an easy journey. To establish herself in a traditionally male-dominated area, she had to break social norms and convince tourists.
‘Initially, some people did not believe that women could do this profession. Wild animals such as rhinos, tigers and bears are found in Chitwan National Park. Taking tourists on a jungle safari can be risky,’ says Sudiksha. The same natural challenges include adverse weather conditions, muddy roads in summer or rain, and insect infestations.
Sakina Mahato, a student of environmental science from East Chitwan, says she is enjoying her career. ‘I am a nature lover and have a keen interest in animal conservation, so I studied environmental science and have made this field my career.’ She said that despite the difficulties, she has gained self-satisfaction and has been immersed in this profession for nine months.
‘It is definitely not easy, it is a bit risky and adventurous. At one time, women were not imagined in this area, but now women have started coming with fearlessness,’ she says, demonstrating her knowledge, skills, and expertise to make the forest experience of tourists unforgettable.
Prabha Kumal, 20, a BBS student from Yogi Tole, Chitwan, has been active in this area for a year. Her interest in wildlife attracted her to it since childhood. She says that she was born and raised around the forest from a young age, so her affinity with wildlife attracted her to this area.
‘I already had experience with the forest and wild animals, but I entered this field by completing a special course for professional nature guides, which increased my knowledge and confidence.’ Biplav Poudel, the owner of Barahijangal Lodge, says that female nature guides can be taken as a model for wildlife conservation, adventure tourism and women’s empowerment in a male-dominated area.
‘Initially, the number of women in this area was very low. Now, it is happy to see the number of female nature guides increasing. Their confidence, skill and hard work are commendable.’
Poudel says that the presence of women nature guides has helped spread the message of women empowerment in the local community, “We have been promoting women guides from Barahi Jungle Lodge, and have also been providing opportunities based on women’s knowledge, skills and abilities.” He says that stakeholders need to pay more attention to their skill development, training and ensuring opportunities.
President of the Photo Journalists Association Kaski, which is active in promoting tourism through photos and videos, Ram Gurung said that the sight of women nature guides guiding tourists in the ‘Photo Walk at Meghauli Yatra’ was very proud.
Sharing his experience of the trip, Gurung said, ‘Only a few years ago, male guides were predominantly seen in adventure activities like jungle safaris and boat safaris, but now it is very good and positive to see female nature guides in those places.’
Gurung said, ‘Along with knowledge of wildlife, biodiversity, local culture, etc., women’s participation in this field has sent a positive message not only to the tourism industry but also to society. The perspective towards women is also changing.’
The Biodiversity Conservation Center under the National Nature Conservation Fund, which is active in the field of forest, wildlife and environment conservation, has been conducting nature guide training. Rishi Subedi, senior ranger at the Biodiversity Conservation Center, Sauraha, said that women nature guides have entered this field with sufficient knowledge, confidence and passion.
‘We have now seen women proudly participating in nature guide training, which used to have zero participation, and becoming professionally skilled human resources. This is a good thing, they should now be given the necessary training and told that they can face more challenges,’ he said.
According to him, the nature guide training, which was formally launched in Vikram Sambat 2046/47, was initially provided by foreign volunteers. When the park regulations stipulated that ‘only trained nature guides can tour tourists’, then the fund prepared a 15-day course and started providing training after getting approval from the Ministry of Environment.
He said that the role of nature guides is also important in forest and wildlife conservation, as trained nature guides also receive information about wildlife poaching and removal within the forest area.
At least SEE must be passed to participate in the training. Preference is given to people from local and intermediate areas. After the training, at least 60 percent marks are required in the written and interview exams.
Only after fulfilling the above criteria are you considered eligible for nature guides. The training fund has been operating using its own resources and means. Various stakeholder organizations have also been demanding training from time to time.
So far, 1,600 to 1,700 people have been trained. The number of women is around 10 to 15 percent. Nature guides are earning Rs 30,000 to 50,000 per month.
Tourists are paid Rs 1,500 to 2,000 for a full day of guiding, and Rs 800 to 1,000 for half a day. Subedi said that there are examples of guides who have been trained here getting jobs in India and other countries.
Lucky Karki, founder of Three Sisters Adventure Trekking and Women Empowerment Nepal, says that women breaking through the boundaries of a traditionally male-dominated profession is an example of women’s empowerment.
‘Women nature guides are not just doing their job, they have become an inspiring force for positive change in the local community. “They have become an example that women are capable in different fields,” says Karki. “Earlier, women were made the subject of protection, today they have become the carriers of protection. Yesterday, they were given a limited role, today they are appearing in leadership and challenging roles.” Karki said that the confidence, experience, knowledge, skills, passion and understanding of women guides have played a role in making Nepal’s tourism more safe, inclusive and intimate.
प्रतिक्रिया दिनुहोस्