CHITWAN: First of its kind, a Wildlife Hospital is being constructed in Sauraha of Chitwan district, to negate injury and disease-borne deaths of wild animals.

Annually, more than 50 wild animals die naturally, half of them succumbing to injuries due to lack of timely medical intervention, in Chitwan National Park alone.

ln the fiscal year 2017/18, 25 One-Horned Rhinos' deaths were recorded. Of them, 14 died of infections after getting injured.

According to Chitwan National Park Assistant Conservation Officer Narendra Regmi, rhinos mostly get injured while coming across each other and most of them die of infections inflicted by injuries and due to lack of timely medical treatment.

Not only One-horned Rhinos but Tiger, Leopard, Cheetal, Deer, Boar, and Blue Bull have also died in want of treatment in the Park.

The estimated cost of construction of the hospital is Rs 30 million, which is collectively funded by the Nepal Government, Denver Zoo of United States of America and World Wildlife Fund.

So far, 70 per cent of the construction work has been completed, according to the Information Officer.

Dr Kamal Gaire at the Chitwan National Park said addition of further technology and manpower along with construction of the hospital would significantly help to reduce the untimely demise of many wild animals.

"With the construction of the hospital, necessary medicines and technology would be installed which would ease treatment of injured and sick wildlife across Nepal," Dr Gaire added.

Currently, Jawalakhel-based zoo has been providing minor treatments to the injured wild animals.

Acting Chief at the National Trust for Nature Conservation Ram Kumar Aryal has vowed to provide moving x-ray machine and quarantine facility to the newly constructed hospital.

Earlier, the then Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya had laid the foundation stone for construction of the Wildlife Hospital in Chitwan on March 04, 2015. However, due to various reasons the construction of the hospital was delayed.

Meanwhile, stakeholders along with wildlife conservationists and wildlife lovers have been elated with the construction of the hospital in the area.