Chitwan, April 9

Chitwan National Park completed one year of zero poaching today with no poaching of wildlife recorded in the world famous sanctuary.

Poachers had last killed an adult rhino in Hariyali Banhatta Buffer Zone Community Forest in Jagatpur,  Chitwan on April 8 last year.

According to Batuk Dal Battalion Chief Samundra Thapa, round-the-clock security has been managed to prevent poaching.

“All possible measures have been taken and all places from the national park to the buffer zone are watched 24-7,” he said. He further reassured that CCTV had been installed at most sensitive locations and separate teams were constantly patrolling the entire area on bicycle, motorcycle, four-wheeler, boats and elephants.

CNP Chief Conservation Officer Bed Kumar Dhakal appreciated the completion of zero poaching year, and called on the continued support of all to prevent wildlife from being hunted. “As February to June is the ideal season for poachers, security has been beefed up,” said Dhakal, who said more than 120 posts, including 50 permanent and temporary and over 20 mobile camps have been set up for security purpose. CNP Assistant Conservation Officer and Information Officer Nurendra Aryal said tip-offs were being taken into account to make the security efficacious.

As per data, the national park witnessed the highest number of poaching cases in 2002, when 38 rhinos were killed. A total of 159 rhinos have been killed since 2000. As per the latest count of 2015, Nepal is home to 645 one-horned rhinos, of whom 605 are found in Chitwan National Park alone.