A wild water buffalo (Bubalus arnee), locally known as Arna, which was translocated to Chitwan National Park from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve two years ago gave birth to female calf on Thursday.

Nurendra Aryal, the park’s information officer, said they were pleased to announce the birth of a female Arna calf for the first time in the park in 70 years.

The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation had translocated 15 wild water buffaloes to Chitwan in 2017. Only six of them are alive currently.

Aryal said five Arnas died after suffering from various parasitic diseases and one was fatally mauled by a tiger.   

The birth of a Arna calf is a good news for all conservationists, he added.

It is estimated that there are 3,400 wild water buffaloes in Nepal, India, Sri Lanka, Cambodia, Myanmar, Thailand and Bhutan.