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Finding Aids to Oral Histories in the Smithsonian Institution Archives

Record Unit 9611

Nepal Tiger Project Oral History Interviews, 2000

Repository:Smithsonian Institution Archives, Washington, D.C. Contact us at osiaref@si.edu.
Creator:
Title:Nepal Tiger Project Oral History Interviews
Dates:2000
Quantity:4 audiotapes.
Collection:Record Unit 9611
Language of Materials:English
Summary:

This interview of Anup Raj Joshi, Bishnu Bahadur Lama, and Pralad Yonzon, conducted by Pamela M. Henson, discussed their roles in the Nepal Tiger Project and reminiscences of Smithsonian staff and activities for the project.

Historical Note

On the occasion of the 25th anniversary of the Conservation and Research Center of the National Zoological Park, Institutional History Division Historian, Pamela M. Henson interviewed several visitors from Nepal to record the history of the Smithsonian-Nepal Tiger Ecology Project. Tigers were declared endangered in 1968, and so, in 1972, Smithsonian Secretary S. Dillon Ripley created the project to train and develop conservation leaders in the field of tiger ecology, develop a deep understanding of tiger behavioral ecology, and formulate a set of conservation actions that would ensure tiger survival in Nepal. Research concentrated in the region of the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal.

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Introduction

The Oral History Program is part of the Smithsonian Institution Archives. The purpose of the program is to conduct interviews with current and retired members of the Smithsonian staff who have made significant contributions, administrative and scholarly, to the Institution. The project's goal is to supplement the published record and manuscript collections in the Archives, focusing on the history of the Institution and contributions to the increase and diffusion of knowledge made by its scholars.

The Nepal Tiger Project interviews were accessioned into the Oral History Collection because of the significance of this pioneering conservation program in Southeast Asia.

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Descriptive Entry

This interview of Anup Raj Joshi, Bishnu Bahadur Lama, and Pralad Yonzon, conducted by Pamela M. Henson, discussed their roles in the Nepal Tiger Project and reminiscences of Smithsonian staff and activities for the project. The collection is consists of one interview session, totaling approximately 2 hours of recording and 60 pages of transcript.

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Use Restriction

Restricted. Contact SIHistory@si.edu to request permission.

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Preferred Citation

Smithsonian Institution Archives, Record Unit 9611, Nepal Tiger Project Oral History Interviews

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Container List

Interviews

Interview 1: May 4, 2000

Interviews

The interview begins with the work of Mssrs. Joshi and Lama at the Chitwan National Park, working with Kirti Man Tamang, Melvin E. Sunquist, J. L. David Smith, and Hemanta Mishra; learning to track, capture, and put radio collars on the tiger population their study area; recounts the story of an rhinocerous attack on David Smith and tiger attack on Kirti Man Tamang; and reminiscences of field experiences. At 8 minutes into second tape, Pralad Yonzon joined them and discussed his education at University of Michigan and University of Maine, wildlife research on red pandas and other species; role as a trustee of the Board of King Mahendra Trust for Nature Conservation; research for the Nepal Tiger Project; and reminiscences of field work on tigers; c. 1970s to 2000.

Interviews

Transcript, pp. 1-60 of audiotape recording, 2.0 hours.

Interviews

Audio Recordings of Interview: Total Recording Time: 2.0 hours

Interviews
Original Masters: 4 7" reel-to-reel analog audiotapes
Reference Copies: 2 cassette audiotapes

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