Chitwan National Park began the internal relocation of rhinos on Saturday, aiming to transfer four rhinos to the eastern part of the park as the western part has seen an increase in the rhino population of late.

Even if studies for internal rhino relocation had been conducted several years ago, the park started the process last year, relocating six rhinos at the time.

According to Ganesh Pant, senior conservation officer of the park, all preparations for the relocation have been completed. A technical team has started the transfer process from the Amaltari sector in the western part of the park. The relocation will involve the park’s elephants, technical staff, employees, and security personnel from the army.

Pant confirmed that two male and two female rhinos are being relocated in this phase. The relocation follows recommendations from a study report commissioned by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation. The report indicated that 60 percent of the rhino population is concentrated in the western part and relocating some of them would help in better habitat management, he added.

The relocation is expected to take around two weeks to complete.

Abinash Thapa Magar, the park’s information officer, shared that the relocation is anticipated to improve the chances of breeding between the rhinos from the western and eastern areas. The relocated rhinos will be released in the Khagendramalli and Pyaridhap areas in the eastern part of the park.

A team led by Ramchandra Kandel, director-general of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, has also arrived in Chitwan to oversee the relocation process.

A team led by deputy director Bed Kumar Dhakal had previously carried out a detailed study three years ago regarding rhino relocation. According to the latest census, there are currently 752 rhinos in Nepal, with 694 of them residing in Chitwan National Park. Among other national parks, Bardiya and Shuklaphanta have 38 and 17 rhinos, respectively, while Parsa National Park has three.