Chitwan National Park has been on high alert after rhinos started dying due to smuggling. After poachers killed a rhinoceros on Magh 6, the park has adopted high vigilance to protect the rhinoceros.
According to the park, no rhinoceros died due to poaching after Ashad 2078. Information officer of the park, Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, said that after the poachers started killing the rhinoceros, high alert was taken. According to him, poaching control units under 22 consumer committees within the park area have been started to operate effectively.
He said, ‘The unit has been activated with public awareness about poachers.’
An investigation into the matter has been launched following the rise in rhino poaching in the park. He said that homework has been started to make the information system more effective by intensifying awareness through discussions between the concerned agencies related to rhino protection.
According to the park, regular patrols have been increased in areas where there is a thick habitat of rhinoceros and the communities in the area have been requested to exercise high vigilance.
In the current financial year, 11 rhinos have died in the park. Out of which 8 rhinoceros died due to time and two were killed by poachers. Tiwari said that one rhino was electrocuted while entering the village.
With the increasing number of rhinos dying, the park has started special work on forest and wildlife protection. There are 57 posts of Nepali army and personnel in the park, combined and single. Some of those posts even have elephants.
The park has been regularly patrolled daily by foot, bicycle, boat, elephant and vehicle. According to Tiwari, dogs are also used in research. He said that after the smugglers killed the rhinoceros, the patrols were tightened and the search for those involved in smuggling was intensified.
During the armed conflict, up to 42 rhinos were killed in a single year due to poaching. In recent years poaching has come down to zero. After the resumption of smuggling, it is said that the park administration has started a campaign to control it with special attention. According to the latest count, there are 752 one-horned rhinos in Nepal, of which 694 are in Chitwan National Park. Rasas
