Kathmandu, February 26:

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) will launch a census of rhinos in Nepal’s national parks and wildlife reserves from the first week of March.

The result of the census is expected to give a clear view on what should be done to protect the endangered animal in the future, the DNPWC Acting Director-General Shyam Bajimaya told this daily.

“It is difficult to say how many of the endangered animals are left in the country now. We have seen rapid poaching as well as encouraging conservation efforts,” he said.

Previous census showed that the number of pachyderms declined from 612 in 2000 to 372 in 2005 and the experts believe the number is declining fast. The census will continue for a month and find out the total number of rhinos roaming in Bardiya National Park, Chitwan National Park and the Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve.

“Details for the census are being drafted. Things will be finalised within this month. We are still trying to find out donors for the project,” he said, adding that WWF Nepal and National Trust for Nature Conservation have agreed to support the department for the count.

Last year a rapid rhino-count was held in Bardiya and Shuklaphanta in which 31 and seven rhinos were spotted, respectively . Until 1950 Nepal was home to 800 rhinos and the number dwindled alarmingly in the following decade with only 60 rhinos left in 1960s.

With conservation efforts, the rhino population rose to 612 in 2000.