CNP to send first pair of rhinos to China soon

The rhinos were taken under control last year and were kept at NTNC

Chitwan, June 16

Chitwan National Park is preparing to send two pairs of rhinos to China soon as per the government’s decision to gift two pairs of one-horned rhinos to the northern neighbour.

Chitwan National Park Chief Conservation Officer Bed Kumar Dhakal said forest ministry has already named the rhinos.

According to Dhakal, the female rhino was named as Rupasi and male was Bhadra.

He said that the name was sent to Chitwan National Park and Department of Park. The rhinos were taken under control last year and were kept on the premises of Sauraha-based National Trust for Nature Conservation. Dhakal said that they were all set to send at least a couple of rhinos to China during the upcoming visit of Prime Minister KP Sharma Oli, but could not do so as China failed to make necessary preparations to provide habitat to the rhinos,” he added.

Other two rhinos have not been named yet.

The rhinos that were named would be sent by mid-July while next pair would be sent in the third week of July.

China had requested the then Prime Minister KP Oli to provide two pairs of rhinos during his visit to China some two years ago.  In August, 2017, the State Forestry Administration of China had invited Nepali conservation officials to come and identify a proper habitat for rhinoceros.