Largest Rhino Count in Nepal begins

The fifth Rhino Count, the largest ever campaign to count the number of greater one-horned Rhinos living in the jungles of Nepal has begun from Chitwan National Park (CNP), Tuesday. Some 150 wildlife technicians have bee deployed on 40 domesticated elephants with modern equipments to track and collect details of the endangered animal, according to Juddha Gurung, member secretary of Nature Conservation Trust, which manages CNP. The team completed count of Rhinos in Sunachari area of CNP, 1^st among the 19 blocs in CNP. The Rhino will be conducted over 19 days in CNP, taking one bloc each day. The Rhino count team will collect maximum possible details of the Rhinos including sex, estimated age and health status of the Rhinos.

Greater one-horned Rhinos, available only in the jungles of Nepal and India, have been placed in the list of endangered animals due to the fast depletion in its numbers. The animal is poached for its precious horn, which is believed to have medicinal and cosmetic values. The previous Rhino Count conducted in 2008 had shown 435 Rhinos across the country with 408 in CNP, 22 in Bardiya National Park and five in Shuklaphanta Hunting Reserve. 66 Rhinos have died since the previous Rhino count, said Gurung, considering a growth rate of five percent we expect around 450 Rhinos to be counted. Among the 66 deceased Rhinos, 32 were poached and 34 died natural death.

Rhino count in Nepal based on direct observation began in 1994 and has been carried out four times so far. According to the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, 440 Rhinos were counted in 1994, 612 in 2000 and 372 in 2005. Details about the situation of Rhino habitat, availability of wetlands and grazing lands will also be collected in the course of the Rhino count, said Gurung.