HELICOPTER TRAGEDY: TERRIBLE LOSS FOR WWF AS WELL AS FOR THE WORLD OF CONSERVATION
09.26.06 - Leído 192 veces. Enviar esta notaRedacción Planeta Azul
Last weekend has been a terrible moment for WWF, for Nepal, and for conservation around the world.
September 25th, 2006.- The World Wildlife Found, have lost seven of their colleagues, friends, in an helicopter crash in Ghunsa, Nepal.
These were people who had dedicated their lives to conserving the extraordinary natural resources of Nepal and the Earth. Their deaths are a huge blow.
The deaths amount the biggest single loss of life in WWF’s 45-year history.
It is a sad day for Nepal, too. The country has lost its Minister of State for Forests and Soil Conservation, the Secretary of that Ministry, the Director General of National Parks and Wild Life Conservation, the Director General of Forests, several of its most distinguished defenders of natural resources and overseas specialists who were champions for conservation in Nepal.
Nature conservation in the country will suffer a severe setback.
The helicopter was on its way back from a trip to a conservation site at Ghunsa, in Kangchenjunga, in eastern Nepal in the Himalayas near the border with India. It was due to land in Taplejung 20 minutes later but failed to arrive.
An air and land search was quickly begun, but was hampered by poor weather conditions, which reduced visibility, and the remote location.
The helicopter was returning from an inauguration ceremony which saw the Nepalese government turn over the conservation of the wildlife and habitats surrounding Kangchenjunga — the world’s third-highest mountain — to a coalition of local communities.
The Kangchenjunga Conservation Area is known for its rich biodiversity, spectacular scenery and vibrant cultural heritage.
Launched in 1998, it is designed to conserve globally threatened wildlife species such as the snow leopard and red panda while supporting the local communities through health services, informal education and income-generating activities.
The wreckage of the helicopter was found today, after two days of difficult searching. “The helicopter has been found, and it appears that there are no survivors, but we are waiting for final confirmation,” WWF International Director General James Leape said this morning.
The wreckage of the Shree Air helicopter was
found today 1.8 kilometres (1.15 miles) from Ghunsa village. Rescuers had been looking for the crash site since the helicopter disappeared shortly after noon Nepal time (6.00 GMT) on Saturday.
It was found by a search team who had hiked in on foot.
Our hearts go out to the families of all the passengers and crew on that flight at WWF as well as at Planeta Azul. We mourn your loss.
To the families and friends of Chandra Gurung, Mingma Norbu Sherpa, Harka Gurung, Yeshi Lama, Jill Bowling Schlaepfer, Jennifer Headley and Matthew Preece - we share your grief, and offer our promise that they will not be forgotten and that their work will continue.
Since the news broke, WWF has received messages of condolence from around the world, from members, partners, media groups, and other conservation organizations, and from the public.
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