CHITWAN: The water buffaloes kept in the open enclosure in Chitwan National Park (CNP) have been responding well to the medical treatment and food supply. There is progress in the health of buffaloes as they are being nursed back to health.

The water buffaloes were in critical condition after the monsoon flood contaminated the food and water resources in CNP in August this year.

CNP Chief Conservation Officer Ram Chandra Kandel has expressed his hope that the buffaloes could be saved now. He said that the buffaloes had a lean time of it in Monsoon when the grassland and ponds were covered with mud due to rain-triggered floods.

A team from Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation conducted emergency inspection on 18 September, Kandel said and added that the water buffaloes recovered due to health check-up, regular medical treatment and nutritious diet provided on the prescription given by the team. He said, the water buffaloes are being served with fresh water and grasses collected from another place outside the CNP.

Officer Kandel noted that the swollen chins of water buffaloes were recovering after they were given medical treatment for parasitic worm infestation.

A total of 15 water buffaloes including 12 from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve (KTWR) and three others from the Central zoo were translocated to the open enclosure in Purano Padampur area of CNP on 26 January this year. All three water buffaloes from the zoo and another one from KTWR had already died through lack of adaptation before monsoon while two others died in the aftermath of the natural disaster. There are now only ten water buffaloes in the CNP, Kandel shared.

A sum of Rs 9 million have been spent in the translocation and management of water buffaloes, CNP Assistant Conservation Officer Nurendra Aryal shared. He said, Rs 3.4 million has been spent on enclosure construction, Rs 4.5 million in translocation, Rs 400,000 in inspection and Rs 700,000 extra for enclosure repairing and habitation management.