Five rhinos dead in 2.5 months

Nawalpur: A total of five rhinoceros have lost their lives in a span of 2.5 months in Chitwan.  Although four rhinos died naturally, one rhino lost its live because of poaching.

Information Officer of Chitwan National Park Ashok Ram said that the rhino which died on September 1 had injuries.

“This rhino was hunted,” said Ashok Ram.

Chitwan National Park is the main habitat in Nepal for one-horned rhinoceros, which is one of the rare animals of the world.

According to the 2015 census of rhinos, there are 605 rhinos in Nepal.

According to the data from the Chitwan National Park, 26 rhinos lost their lives in 2017/18. Similarly, 26 rhinos died in 2018/19 and 26 rhinos lost their lives in 2019/20. Likewise, in this fiscal year, five rhinos have already lost their lives.  Though the National Park was preparing for rhino count, the coronavirus pandemic affected the process, said Chief Conservation Officer of the park Ana Nath Baral.

The National Park has formed a team to find out the reason for frequent natural deaths of rhinos.