Chitwan, November 10

A one-horned rhino, which was swept to India from Chitwan National Park by floods around three months ago, was rescued and brought back to CNP yesterday.

The rhino was rescued from Valmiki Tiger Reserve in India and it was set free in Chitwan National Park today. The rhino was set free in CNP in the presence of Secretary at Forest Ministry Yubakdhowj GC, Director General of the Department of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Man Bahadur Khadka, and National Nature Conservation Fund Member Secretary Govinda Gajurel, among others.

CNP assistant conservation officer Abhinaya Pathak said the rhino was washed away to India’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve by floods during monsoon. The tiger reserve is in India’s Madanpur, some 20 kilometers away from Nepal-India border. Pathak said four elephants and 70 persons were used to catch the rhino and bring it back.

According to Pathak, the rhino was made unconscious using dart before it was loaded on a truck. Pathak also said another rhino was spotted in India’s Uttar Pardesh and a team from CNP would visit the forest area in Uttar Pradesh to take stock of the rhino.