A 40-member team from Chitwan National Park (CNP) and National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) have successfully rescued an adult one-horned female rhinoceros yesterday on Sunday (December 17, 2018) from Susta in Nawalparasi district. Following the devastating terai floods last year in July-August, 2017, some rhinos from Nepal were swept into the adjoining Valmiki Tiger Reserve in India. Prior to the latest incident, ten rhinos have already been successfully rescued—nine from Indian territory and one from the Nepal border side. In spite of the efforts, some rhinos could not be rescued then due to flood and terrain-related obstacles in the transboundary border areas.
A 40-member team from Chitwan National Park (CNP) and National Trust for Nature Conservation
A 40-member team from Chitwan National Park (CNP) and National Trust
A 40-member team from Chitwan National Park (CNP) and National
Ever since the floods, Park authorities have been closely awaiting an opportunity to rescue the remaining other rhinos. The current rescue operation was initiated two weeks ago after CNP and NTNC authorities were alerted about the missing rhino crossing over from India to Nepal. Immediately a technical team was deployed, wherein yesterday they were able to successfully tranquilize and take control of it. Following this, the rhino has now been successfully released near Tamor Tal area inside Chitwan National Park.
Given that the habitat of Valmiki Tiger Reserve in India is not favorable for rhinos, wildlife authorities in Nepal hope that the remaining missing rhinos swept by the floods will also get to find a way back home soon. Concerning this matter, a letter has already been sent by the Government of Nepal to the Indian Ministry of External Affairs.
