KATHMANDU: After the invasive plant Mikania Macarantha (Michaha Jhar) started growing at an alarming rate inside the Chitwan National Park, Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC), with support from national and international organisations, has started a research on impact of the weed on the rhino habitat.

According to the DNPWC officials, the research began on Friday after fitting the first Global Positioning System (GPS) Collaring on one rhino.

"The rhino was tranquilised and the GPS was fitted on the neck. This is a new method used in rhino research in the country," said Naresh Subedi, one of the researchers involved in the study. In a few months time, the GPS will be fixed on the neck of other six to eight rhinos.

The organisations, with the help of Zoological Society of London, Wildlife Institute of India and WWF Nepal, are jointly conducting the study.

"The invasive plant is growing rapidly so its impact on the wildlife habitat, especially rhino, has to be identified as there is no accurate database on this issue," said Shiva Raj Bhatta, spokesperson, DNPWC.

The research will unearth the realities as to whether the invasive plant possess any threat to the habitat of rhinoceros Unicornis, one of the most endangered species of the rhinos.

"Mikania Macarantha favours the moist, damp areas and the best habitat of the rhinoceros is also identified as same so there is the need to justify scientifically about the impact," added Subedi, who is also working for National Trust for Nature Conservation.

"It's not that the impact is only negative, the results may show the positive impact as well. But the reliable scientific assessment is the need of the hour," added Subedi.

As per the research strategy, the GPS will be fitted on the neck and the data will be recorded twice a day.

The Mikania Macarantha has been destroying the forest inside the CNP."The food habit and the other behavioural changes, like breeding performance of the rhino, will be monitored regularly and will be analysed scientifically," said Subedi.Previously Radio Collaring was used where the researcher should have to go and collect the data when required but using the GPS one can get the data recorded on the device automatically

"If the breeding performance is found decreasing, then the population of the rhino may dwindle in future.

Hence, the findings are very important to conduct the research for planning the further conservation strategy to save the endangered rhinos," added Subedi.

According to the 2008 census, there are 408 rhinos in CNP.