Estrategia “Plan de financiamiento operativo programado” (FO3: F3-O2-O4)

Collection of documentation and archival records, semi-structured interviews with key informants and field visits were the main methods for this study.

4.5.1 Documentation and Archival Records

The most important secondary information for the study was gathered mainly from the CNP, DNPWC, ITNC and office of the BZMC. Information about financial support made by the ITNC through TTJL for CNP to save rhinoceros and other wildlife was gathered from the head office of Tiger Tops in Kathmandu. Some information was collected from NTNC and Terai Arc landscape (TAL) programme office in Sauraha. All required information was collected based on the proposed hypotheses and their

indicators selected for the study which are presented in Chapter 1.

Published materials such as books and journal articles were reviewed to obtain data regarding the value of rhinoceros horns (Khag) in international black markets. Other relevant data were gathered from various sources such as monthly and annual progress reports of CNP and DNPWC, workshop and conference reports, websites and published or unpublished theses. A range of documents such as existing records of CNP and its BZMC were reviewed to gather information such as numbers of tourists visiting the Park, rhinoceros poached, poachers arrested and sentenced; revenue generated from the Park and channelled back into the buffer zone, the average penalty for poachers, and the

rhinoceros population. In addition, other historical documents, maps and charts of the geographical characteristics of the Park were consulted to derive valuable data for the research.

Important information from such sources was used to understand the impacts of wildlife tourism on rhinoceros poaching, and important events and factors responsible for the poaching in CNP over time. In conclusion, it is believed that the triangulation of the information collected from multiple sources of evidence and research methods would maximise reliability and validity of this study.

4.5.2 Semi-Structured Interviews

The questionnaire interview surveys involved interviewer-administered questionnaires in face to face encounters asking verbal questions of respondents and recording the answers (Babbie, 1995).The semi-structured interview is a qualitative data collection strategy in which the researcher asks informants a series of predetermined but open- ended questions. Semi-structured interviews are found to be useful for social research because it encourages respondents to express their opinions and experiences openly. It also provides opportunities to ask additional questions relevant to the research and find out in-depth information. This method is useful to find out some hidden aspects of respondents' knowledge, opinions or information such as the issue of rhinoceros poaching.

A semi-structured questionnaire developed for the face-to-face interview was used. After collecting the secondary information, the graphs were developed mainly showing the relationship between numbers of wildlife tourists and rhinoceros poached in CNP since the establishment of the Park. A separate graph showing the trend of rhinoceros poaching since 1950 was also developed. The questions developed based upon these graphs were asked for the respondents to interpret. Interviews with tourism operators and host communities were conducted in their residences, while interviews with Park management authorities, NGO/INGOs and researcher/experts were carried out in their offices.

Prior to the interviews, participants were briefed about the research objectives, the time required for the interview, as well as issues relating to confidentiality and anonymity. The graphs were briefed at the first by the researcher and the questions were asked based on these. In general, the interview aimed to investigate the understandings of local wildlife tourism stakeholders on how wildlife tourism can impact on rhinoceros

poaching, or how wildlife tourism and rhinoceros poaching are related in CNP. In addition, respondents were asked to share their knowledge on how various incidences and factors have impacted upon rhinoceros poaching in CNP over time. They were also asked to describe the important reasons for rhinoceros poaching in the area. The

interviews were conducted in Nepali and were recorded on audio-tapes. They were transcribed and translated into English from Nepali. Confidentiality was maintained by not recording interviewees’ names. A checklist for the semi-structured interview is listed in Appendix A.

4.5.3 Field Observation

Observation is a primary method of data collection in field research. Singleton, Straits, & Straits (1993) argued that field investigators often start their work with field

observations, even when they use other methods such as analysing archival records or interviewing key informants for gathering information, and this generally serves as supplementary evidence or cross-checks to the research findings.

In this study, the researcher made two field trips, once in Kasara and the other in Sauraha. In Kasara, the Park’s headquarters, the researcher’s trip was accompanied by the Park’s Chief Conservation Officer and other staff. During the visit, the researcher observed the Park’s management interventions such as anti-poaching guard posts and habitat management projects, including waterholes within the Park. The elephant management centre and anti-poaching guard posts impaired by the Maoists during the insurgency were observed during the trip from Sauraha.

These field trips helped the researcher to understand the physical settings of wildlife tourism and rhinoceros conservation, such as habitat management, anti-poaching guard posts and wildlife watching towers, and incidences such as displacement of security personnel during the Maoist insurgency.