The scheduled rhino census in Bardiya National Park, conducted every three years, has been postponed indefinitely due to budget constraints.

According to Chief Conservation Officer Ashok Ram, the census, originally planned for March, was canceled after international donor funding was halted. The funding shortfall has not only affected Bardiya but has also disrupted the national-level census.

Four months ago, the park conducted a monitoring survey, recording 26 rhinos. The last census, conducted in 2022, counted 38 rhinos in Bardiya.

It is estimated that more than a dozen rhinos migrated to the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India, possibly in search of water.

The drying up of the Geruwa river, caused by sediment accumulation from the Karnali river floods over the past decade, has led to habitat changes.

Despite challenges, Bardiya has maintained zero poaching incidents for the past 16 years, thanks to strict security measures and active community involvement.