Human Rights Violations in Parks

Co-Managed by the World Wildlife Foundation

Kaziranga National Park.

Kaziranga National Park was established in 1974. Human Rights violations in the park include:

  • 7-year-old boy shot by park guards

  • 300 families evicted in the park buffer zone

  • More then 100 extra-judicial killings perpetuated by park authorities in the last 20 years

Salonga National Park

Salonga National Park was established in 1970 on the lands of the Mongo, the Mbole and the Twa indigenous peoples. Human Rights violations in the park include:

  • Indigenous Peoples were forcibly and violently evicted, and relocated without consultation

  • One man suspected of fishing was publicly by Eco-guards

  • Eco-guards tortured and raped at least four women, including two pregnant woman

  • Eco-guards constantly conduct arbitrary arrests and detentions, used to extort Indigenous Peoples.

Chitwan National Park

The Chitwan National Park was established in 1971 on the lands of the Tharu, Bote, Majhi, Darai and Kumal Indigenous Peoples.

  • Government of Nepal illegally displaced around 20,000 Tharu people without compensation

  • During evictions that occurred in 2019 and 2020, the army raped twenty-seven women, six of whom were killed

  • Shikharam Chaudhary was killed by eco-guards for collecting snails inside the park borders

“...all our activities (fishing, hunting, gathering) are done primarily in what will be the reserve, and we can’t continue to practice those”
— Baka man, Assoumindele

Kaeng Krachan National Park

The Kaeng Krachan National Park was listed as a World Heritage site in 2021 on the traditional lands of the Karen Indigenous Peoples

  • Karen indigenous people were forcibly evicted from their lands, their houses, rice granaries and agriculture tools were destroyed

  • Violence, excessive use of force and extra-judicial killings against the Karen people have been reported

Ngoyla Wildlife Reserve

The Ngoyla Wildlife Reserve was created in 2014 on the customary lands of indigenous Baka communities without proper process of free, prior and informed consent.

  • Establishment of the reserve has resulted in impoverishment, decline of health, rise of disease and cultural loss for Baka communities

  • Eco-guards have committed gross human rights violations towards Baka people including death threats, intimidations, harassments, torture and beatings