Kathmandu, August 13

The government is set to gift yet another pair of one-horned rhinos to China. Earlier, a pair of rhinos were flown to China on July 12.

The pair, ‘Soalti’ (male) and ‘Mitini’ (female), will be transported to Kathmandu tomorrow. They will be kept on the premises of National Trust for Nature Conservation in Khumaltar, Lalitpur.

According to director general of Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Man Bahadur Khadka, a veterinary doctor, caregivers and ten security personnel will accompany the pair from Chitwan to Kathmandu.

“Officials of both countries have finalised all legal procedures regarding their journey.” He added time to study the climatic condition of the destination was saved as the new pair would be released in the same park where the former pair of ‘Bhadra’ and ‘Rupasi’ currently are being kept.

According to the convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora, of which Nepal is a member country, no country is allowed to exchange more than one pair of animals per year.

But, since Nepal government follows the Nepali fiscal year, the former pair was sent in the 2017-18 fiscal and  the new pair is being sent in 2018-2019 fiscal year.

The male rhino Soalti was swept away in last year’s flood and had been rescued from Nepal-India border.