Chitwan, July 10

Two one-horned rhinos prepared to be gifted to the northern neighbour China were bidden farewell in Chitwan and sent to the capital today.

The rare species were escorted by a team of Nepali Army on the way to Kathmandu. They were moved to two separate mini trucks from National Nature Conservation Trust Office, Sauraha. Of the two rhinos, one is a male and the other female.

The rhinos accompanied by Chitwan National Park veterinary doctor Kamal Gaire, technician Kiran Rijal and three support staff will be sent to China tomorrow.

Chitwan National Park Chief Conservation Officer Bed Kumar Dhakal said the Chinese government was preparing to fly the rare species to China in a chartered cargo aircraft.

The rhinos are around two-years-old. The male one was taken under control from Khoriyamuhan and the female from Sukhibhar region of the national park.

The government of Nepal had decided to gift one-horned rhinos to neighbouring China two years ago.

Data shows that the government of Nepal has gifted as many as 26 one-horned rhinos to different countries till date.

Six rhinos were gifted to the US, four to India and two each to Germany, Bangladesh, United Kingdom, Japan, Austria, Thailand, Burma and Pakistan.

Four rhinos were gifted for the first time in 1985 to India.

According to the census of 2015, there are a total of 645 rhinos in Nepal, of which as many as 605 are in Chitwan National Park.

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