The last fiscal year did not produce any encouraging news to the wildlife conservationists especially those concerned about the rhinoceros and people associated with the country's oldest Chitwan National Park (CNP), as the park lost a total of 26 rhinos to various causes in this period.

According to the CNP information officer, Nurendra Aryal, 26 rhinos died from various reasons including natural disaster in the period. Four rhinos were killed in flood-related incidents with two caught in a marsh caused by the flooding while two were swept away by flood waters.

Fighting, delivery complications (in case of some female rhinos) and aging are other reasons behind the deaths of a noticeable number of this endangered wildlife last fiscal year. Three female rhinos succumbed to child delivery complications in this period. They died after failing to give birth to their babies.

The park however has recorded no case of rhino poaching since April 8, 2017.

However, the number of rhino deaths due to other reasons was slightly up in the year compared to the previous year, according to the CNP Information Officer Aryal.

This figure is followed by 25 and 15 rhino deaths in previous two fiscal years respectively. The need of a study was felt to seek potential ways for minimising the death risk among rhinos with their death toll increasing every year, CNP chief conservation officer, Bed Kumar Dhakal said. A squad from the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation has already begun a study to this end.

The CNP latest details mentioned about 605 rhinos here. RSS