Four rhinos will be translocated from Chitwan National Park today
Chitwan National Park has started translocation of rhinos within the park from today. Due to an increase in rhino population in the western part of the park, four rhinos will be relocated to the eastern part. A study conducted a few years ago assessed the need and feasibility of translocating rhinos within the park. However, the actual translocation process only started last year, with six rhinos already successfully translocated. Park’s Chief Conservation Officer Dr Ganesh Pant confirmed that all necessary preparations for the relocation have been completed. A technical team is now preparing to move the rhinos out of the Amaltari sector. The transfer will involve the park’s elephants, technical staff, employees and army security personnel.
Two male and two female rhinos will be transferred. A survey team of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation found that 60 percent of the rhinos are located in the western region and shifting them would provide more suitable habitat. The transfer process is expected to take approximately two weeks. According to the park’s information officer Avinash Thapa Magar, the move is also expected to help rhino breeding. Three years ago, a study team headed by Deputy Director General Ved Kumar Dhakal was formed to assess the transfer process. The most recent census reports that there are 752 rhinos in Nepal, including 694 in Chitwan National Park, 38 in Bardia, 17 in Shuklaphanta and three in Parsa National Park.
