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Kings as wardens and wardens as kings: Post-Rana ties between Nepali royalty and national park staff
Nina Bhatt

This article locates Nepali national park staff (game scouts, rangers and park wardens) in the context of their historical ties with monarchy. The pre-andolan (1951–90) accounts by park staff show how their individual and collective identities were shaped through encounters with royalty, which informed their everyday practices. The social relations, professional goals, and familial desires envisioned by government servants were linked to their perceived closeness with the Nepali kings and through specific events such as royal hunts. Historically, park staff have displayed particularly strong regard and allegiances for the royal family since Nepali kings sanctioned much of Nepal’s early conservation efforts and because monarchs espoused close ties with these officials in the setting up of national parks.