Leonardo DiCaprio donates $3 mn to save Nepal’s tigers

Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio has reiterated his commitment to wild tigers in Nepal by making a significant contribution to World Wildlife Foundation.

Updated on: Nov 23, 2013, 24:50:14 IST

Hindustan Times | By Utpal Parashar, Kathmandu

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Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio has reiterated his commitment to wild tigers in Nepal by making a significant contribution to World Wildlife Foundation (WWF).

While WWF hasn’t disclosed the amount donated by the actor, through the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation, a report in ‘Los Angeles Times’ mention the figure as $ 3 million.

The donation made on the third anniversary of the 2010 Global Tiger Summit is expected to help Nepal double its number of wild tigers by 2022—the next Chinese Year of the Tiger.

The grant will help anti-poaching patrols, protect areas for tiger breeding, restore critical corridors and monitor tiger populations in five protected areas of Nepal’s Terai Arc landscape.

“WWF, Government of Nepal and local communities are on the front lines of this battle (to save tigers) and I am hopeful this grant will help them exceed the goal of doubling the number of these noble creatures,” DiCaprio stated in a release issued by WWF. The actor had visited Nepal in 2011 and earlier grants from his foundation have played a part in increasing the number of wild tigers in Bardia National Park from an estimated 18 to 50 at present.

Nepal is one the 13 countries where tigers are still found in the wild but they are under threat due to poaching and loss of habitat. All these countries had set a goal in 2010 of doubling the number of tigers in wild by 2022.

“The announcement by the Leonardo DiCaprio Foundation adds impetus to Nepal’s tiger protection efforts,” said Anil Manandhar, country representative of WWF Nepal.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Utpal Parashar
A seasoned senior journalist, I have nearly three decades of experience across print, digital, and online platforms, covering political transitions, insurgencies, environmental issues, and development stories in India and Nepal. I am skilled in breaking news, leading editorial teams and launch of newspaper editions. I am adept at leveraging digital trends and social media to expand global reach, with a strong ethical foundation and a reputation for impactful journalism. An alumnus of Asian College of Journalism, I joined Hindustan Times in New Delhi as a trainee reporter in May 1997. Over the years, I have been posted in Dehradun, Kathmandu (Nepal) and Guwahati. Currently, as Senior Assistant Editor at Hindustan Times, I lead a team reporting on India’s northeastern states. My work involves in-depth analysis, and engaging multimedia storytelling across formats, including text, photo, video, and interactive content. I am skilled in producing timely, shareable content, leveraging digital platforms and social media to engage global audiences. Throughout my career with the Hindustan Times, I have led diverse editorial teams, designed capacity-building activities, and supported reporters in developing strong story ideas, ethical reporting practices, digital skills, and fact-checking techniques. As Senior Assistant Editor for Northeast India, I have been responsible for guiding correspondents through complex political, humanitarian, and community-level stories using multimedia formats. Earlier, as Foreign Correspondent in Nepal, I produced extensive reporting during Nepal’s democratic transition and the 2015 earthquake and its aftermath.Read More

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