Chitwan, June 24

The elephants at Chitwan National Park have played a significant role in maintaining two successful years of zero poaching at the park.

CNP has celebrated two consecutive years of zero poaching with the help of park elephants. The elephants were used for patrolling of the park where it protected other creatures from the danger of being killed.

The elephants are also used to ferry goods across the river, take other animals under control and count the number of wild animals in the park. Park authorities also use elephants to chase away wild animals that enter human settlements.

Assistant Conservation Officer of the park, Nurendra Aryal, said the conservation work would have been much difficult in the absence of elephants. “Elephants played a significant role for the conservation of rhinos and other wild animals in the park,” he informed.

According to a source at the park, the number of elephants has increased after a breeding farm was established in 1987. As many as six male elephants and 14 female elephants have been brought to the park from different countries.

Aryal said 16 elephants were brought from India, two from Thailand and two from Myanmar as gifts.

The park’s records show that some elephants were brought from Rautahat and Sarlahi in 1971, 1977 and 1985 for patrolling before the establishment of the breeding farm. Dr Kamal Gaire, a vet at the park, said as many as 25 elephants out of total 50 were born in the park.

He added the breeding farm has 20 elephants at present.