KATHMANDU, MAY 19
The wild animals inhabiting Chitwan National Park (CNP) are facing problems as water sources have started drying up due to the drought.
CNP Information Officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari stated that the water levels in the 134 big and small lakes and ponds inside the park have begun to recede rapidly due to the dry spell, putting the wild animals in trouble.
According to him, the water levels of the wetlands, rivers, and streams, as well as the natural and man-made water bodies inside CNP, have drastically decreased compared to the same period last year.
CNP Chief Conservation Officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun said the water levels in the lakes and ponds have fallen due to the prolonged lack of precipitation. High water evaporation from the water bodies caused by the scorching sun, combined with the lack of rain, has exacerbated the situation.
"It is estimated that the water levels have dropped compared to the last few years. This is because there was less rainfall during the winter this year. The wild animals have been directly affected by this condition," he added.
The rare one-horned rhino, which likes to wallow in the ponds during the summer, and other animals also direly need water. However, the old ponds and wetlands here are not adequately managed for that purpose.
The CNP Office has stated that they are facing difficulties in carrying out cleaning and management works of water sources, such as removing debris, due to a lack of funds.
"In the fiscal year 2075/76 BS, Rs 14.5 million was earmarked for managing the water sources inside the park. We managed 60 ponds that year. However, this fund has reduced to just Rs 2.5 million this fiscal year 2080/81, which is not adequate to carry out cleaning and other management works," the Conservation Officer said.
According to him, only seven ponds have been managed with the available funds this year. This increases the risk of human-wildlife conflict as the wild animals are more likely to stray into human settlements in search of water.
