CHITWAN: The Chitwan National Park (CNP) is all set to translocate at least 10 one-horned rhinos to the Bardiya National Park (BNP) and the Shuklaphanta National Park (SNP) within a month. According to Man Bahadur Khadka, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DoNPWC), January, February and March are the most suitable time for the transfer of the rhinos. The Department had sent five rhinos to the BNP last year whereas this year it aims to send at least 10 rhinos to the BNP and the SNP. Director General Khadka shared that the translocation of the rhinos would begin shortly after the CNP finished bringing back wild buffaloes from the Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. As per a decision of the secretary-level meeting for the translocation of these endangered species in 2015, a total of 30 rhinos of the CNP would be transferred to the two national parks within three years, informed Information Officer at the CNP Narendra Aryal. Although 83 rhinos have been sent to the BNP over the years, many of them were killed by poachers and the population dropped to 34, informed Information Officer Aryal. The total rhino population in Nepal stands at 645 while the CNP houses the highest number of rhinos with 600 rhinos under its care, according to the DoNPWC. READ ALSO:

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