Security has been tightened in the buffer zone along the Chitwan National Park (CNP) following the killing of a rare one-horned rhino recently.

The killing took place at a time when preparations were on to mark third consecutive 'Zero Poaching Year'. The male rhino was found shot in the head and left in a pool of blood with its horn removed inside Hariyali Madhyawarti Community Forest at Jagatpur on April 7 night.

As part of the security arrangement, three security base camps have been added while regular patrolling has been carried out with the total nine vehicles (five added recently), said information officer at the CNP Nurendra Aryal.

A total of 57 permanent security posts are providing security on a regular basis, he said. Night patrolling has been intensified particularly at habitats of rhinos and at areas witnessing their movements by increasing the number of 35 base camps operating only at night to 41, said Chief of Srijung battalion Madhav Thapa.

Aryal said the CNP has announced a bounty of Rs 500,000 to those who tip off about the rhino poacher(s).

In a bid to launch awareness and seek ways to control rhino poaching, consultations are being held regularly with various community forest users' groups in the buffer zone, he said. RSS