Kathmandu, November 4

If everything goes as planned, the government will send a pair of one horned rhinoceros to Guangzhou by July 16 next year as promised earlier. The government had decided to gift two pairs of rhinoceros to China on July 10, 2016.

After a seven-member Chinese team visited Nepal a week ago, the government has begun preparations to send the rhinos to China.

According to the Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation, the Chinese team held a meeting with Nepali officials on October 29 to discuss the possible date for sending the first pair rhinos to Guangzhou within the current Nepali fiscal.

Chief at the Biodiversity and Environment Division at the ministry Dr Maheshwor Dhakal said after the recent meeting between Nepal and China, the deadline for gifting first pair of rhinos has been fixed.

“The CITES provision allows gifting of only one pair in a year. So, we are making efforts to send the first pair within this fiscal,” he added.

After the Nepali team inspected possible habitat for the rhinos in Guangzhou and Shanghai an understanding has been reached to release a pair of rhinoceros in Guangzhou and another pair in Shanghai.

Dr Dhakal added that the first pair of rhinos is likely to be sent to Guangzhou via Kathmandu as direct flight is available.

Earlier, Nepali conservationists’ team had submitted a report and approved Shanghai and Guangzhou as suitable habitats for gifted rhinos.