Chitwan, February 4

The number of one-horned rhinos dying of natural causes has increased unexpectedly in Chitwan National Park of late.

Park Assistant Conservation Officer and Information Officer Gopal Ghimire said 29 rhinos have died in the current fiscal till date. He said 28 rhinos died inside the park while one died in the district forest. Ghimire added that seven rhinos were found dead in the last one month. He informed that they might have died during monsoon, but their carcasses were found in the park.

The rhinos that fell prey to natural causes, except those who died of old age are all below the age of 25 years and this is a worrying fact, according to Ghimire. Some rhinos fought themselves to death, some were trapped in quicksand, some fell off a ridge and some died in labour. The approximate age of a rhino is 40 to 60 years.

According to statistics, as many as eight rhinos died in 2014, 15 in 2015, 14 in 2016 and 24 in 2017. The death rate is said to be high this year compared to past years. Similarly, 36 rhinos were killed by poachers in 2002, 30 in 2003, 16 in 2005 and five in 2000. As per the latest statistics, there are 605 rhinos in the park.

Chief Conservation Officer at the national park Bed Kumar Dhakal said the number of rhino deaths increased after last year’s floods swept away many rhinos from the park

The park authorities informed that CNP had decided to add 40 more ponds inside the park to conserve the rhinos. The park already has 60 ponds at present.