CHITWAN, DECEMBER 23

The survival of the wild water buffalo at Chitwan National Park is at stake for lack of suitable habitat.

A total of 15 wild buffaloes were brought here five years ago from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve and the Central Zoo, Kathmandu, in a bid to increase its population.

Twelve of these animals were translocated from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve while three were brought from the Central Zoo.

Two open habitats have been built in Purano Padampur Area in Chitwan National Park to keep the animals.

According to CNP chief conservation officer Haribhadra Acharya, 10 animals, including six males and four females, have died since mid-July this year.

Natural disaster is a major threat to the life of the animal as it was responsible for the death of five animals in 2017.

Likewise, the animal continues to fall prey to the tiger as well.

A version of this article appears in the print on December 24, 2021, of The Himalayan Times.