Keshavraj Sapkota of Pokhara-25 Hemja still remembers birds making nests in old houses with skulls. Now that he has seen the disappearance of such houses, he has become a 'Latokosero Envoy' to save the bird's habitat.

The organization working in conservation 'Friends of Nature' has prepared an artificial nest with 6 people including him as Latokosero ambassador. 

The Latokosero conservation project prepared by the organization in Gandaki province received the 'Whitley Award' last year. 6 projects were selected based on voting among the projects that competed from around the world. Among them, Nepal's Latocosero conservation project was awarded by the Whitley Fund for Nature with an award of 50,000 pounds.  conservationist Raju Acharya, director of

organization, was presented with the award by British Princess Anne in London. The same amount has been spent on Latocosero conservation in Gandaki. 

These programs are done in collaboration with the division forest office and ward office of the respective district. At the launch of the project, Keshavraj Sapkota, Sudarshan Parajuli, Jyoti Sharma, Deepa Gurung, Ayush Dhungana and Balkumar Gurung were selected as Latokosero conservation ambassadors. After training, Latocosero was assigned to protection. Under the project, 89 in Kaski, 7 in Syangja, 2 each in Myagdi and Baglung, 100 artificial nests have been placed since August last year. 

There are two types of artificial nests made of Tuni wood, large and small. The large nest is made for Gothe Latocosero and the smaller nest is for the Kochalgande, Dundul Latocosero. Acharya said that the big nest is ready for Rs 5,000 and the small nest is Rs 3,500. Artificial nests are placed in houses, schools, community buildings, ward offices, temples, Chautara, parks and party palaces. The organization has also entered into an agreement with the relevant party to keep such a nest for 10 years.  Acharya said that according to the International Gohe Latocosero artificial nest standards prepared by the British Gohe Latocosero Fund, Acharya has also prepared it in Nepal. "Even though some people have made artificial nests in their houses, it is the first time in Nepal that they have made such a large scale institutionally," he said. Old houses are crumbling. Therefore, an artificial nest had to be made.' 

The organization has also installed CCTV cameras inside and outside one of the nests to monitor nest activity for testing. Latocosero has built a nest in seven nests. Chiwe, Dhobini, Dangre, Pareva, Khole Kalchaudo are living in 48 of them. Acharya believes that the artificial nest will be fruitful in its conservation as the Latocosero does not build its own nest and lives in the nests made by other birds.  As part of the

project, the organization has conducted an awareness camp on latocosero conservation among police, forest staff, local communities and students. Since the Latocosero also lives in old trees, 500 old trees have been selected and protected throughout the province. Those trees are monitored by Latocosero messengers. As part of the project, Roll Barah and Simrilek Community Forest of Syangja, Tibrekot Community Forest of Pokhara-25 Hemja and Deurali Pakha Baskuna Community Forest of Myagdi have been declared Latokosero Conservation Special Zone. Along with these, Bhadrakali Forest of Pokhara-13, Shanti and Sallaghari Community Forest of Pokhara-23 have been declared restricted areas.  According to a study conducted by

organization, 12,000 Guleli are sold in Pokhara's Mahendrapul, Pame, Hemza and Bhadrakali areas alone. The organization bought slingshots from the shops around the slingshot restricted area and hung a sign saying 'We do not sell slingshots in this shop'. Director Acharya said that although the use of slingshots was allowed to drive away monkeys in those areas, it was forbidden to use them to kill birds. 

According to him, more than 250 species of Latococera have been recorded worldwide, of which 23 species are found in Nepal. Gothe latokosero is a bird that prefers to live near human settlements. This bird plays an important role in controlling rats in the agricultural sector," he said. "One family of Latocosero can eat 2,000 to 3,000 rats in a season, which helps to increase agricultural production. That's why it is also called the friend of the farmer.'