Lucy Cheeley

I had the opportunity to interview Lalu Babu Mahatara, resident wildlife technician at the NTNC BCC. Lalu is 30 years old and started working here in 2018. I met Lalu on our second day living at the NTNC. I woke up ungodly early from the jetlag and was up and walking around at 4:30 am. Laura came around the corner and told me there was a baby rhino being fed by some guy in the back of the huts. We went to go see, and Lalu was sitting on the edge of his porch feeding Puja her breakfast. Never did I think that I would be feeding a baby rhino in Nepal, but it was an amazing, life changing moment. After meeting Lalu and Puja, I spent many afternoons watching them run around in the lawn in front of our hut. Even in the pouring rain, Lalu is making sure Puja is entertained.

What is your role here at the NTNC?

“My appointment is as wildlife technician, but even as a wildlife technician my main responsibility is to look after all the orphaned animals that come through the center. Which is not specific to a certain kind of animal but anything that comes. What my duty normally involves is in coordination with the vet team. I keep track of what animal was here, how long it stayed, what was the status after the rehabilitation, what is the feeding log, and other stuff like that, and passing the information to the office.

What got you interested in working with animals? Have you always wanted to work with animals, or did you have another career in mind?

“Even when I was in my village, I used to help orphaned kids, like human kids, and I helped quite a number of them. But then over time, I realized that people never see what others have done for them. They kind of forget, and there is not exactly a kind of betrayal, but it’s not recognized what you do for other human beings. So that made me think that maybe it’s more helpful if I go and find opportunity to work with animals, which are voiceless, and [help them] be raised, released, and have a life of their own, which is probably more rewarding than expecting from people.”

What is your favorite animal? (In general, what you’ve cared for, or both)

“My favorite animal is rhino, partially because I feel like I have a special connection with rhinos, and they obey the commands I give, and we understand each other. And of all the animals I’ve cared for I still like the rhino. I feel like I have a special connection with rhinos, and they understand me.”

Do you have a least favorite animal?

“Rhinos are my first love, but I truly love all animals.”

What is the best part of your job?

“What I like about my job is how I help animals get along, like taking them in the forest, learning from the animal, learning from the forest. So, I just enjoy being with the animals, like there is no specific part, I enjoy the whole experience.”

What is the worst part of your job?

“What I am concerned with most about orphaned animal care, is that when I take the animal to the forest to get them habituated, and I see lots of trash. With the wrappers, plastics, and bottles, there is a lot of salt in it because of the food and the glass bottles cut their feet. It’s the amount of trash that’s around us that’s worrying for not only the orphaned animals but also for wildlife in general. I have seen a lot of wildlife eating [the trash] because of the attraction to salt.”

“In general, I enjoy working here and every bit of my job is fun, and I do it with all my heart. [There is] a lot of mixed feelings when I actually release the animals that have been rehabilitated. On one hand it’s sad that they’re leaving, and I had a connection with them, but I also feel very excited, satisfied, and happy that these animals are off to live their own life. They are back in nature and contributing to the park and so on.”

Lalu has taken care of so many amazing animals, from tigers, pythons, clouded leopards, barn owls, spotted owls, and lots of orphaned baby rhinos, I’m sure Lalu has some amazing stories from his work and a lot more animals to add to the list. At the time of this article, Lalu is father to three baby rhinos: Puja (Female, 8 months), Daeb (Male, 1 month), and Raj (Male, 7 days!). Lalu and his work have been an important part of our experience living in Nepal, and his work contributes not only to Chitwan National Park, but the well-being of all native species for years to come.