A baby Rhino eats a banana at the premises of National Trust for Nature Conservation at Chitwan National Park, Nepal, Dec. 30, 2016. (Xinhua/Sunil Sharma)
KATHMANDU, April 3 (Xinhua) -- Nepal government on Monday relocated two one-horned rhinoceros from the country's central-south to the far-west, in a bid to maintain variation, prevent epidemic danger and increase the population of the endangered species.
The two rhinos were relocated from Chitwan National Park to Shuklaphanta National Park. Altogether five rhinos, one male and four females, are scheduled to be transferred this week.
The relocation is for the long-term survival and safety of one-horned rhinos, Ram Chandra Kandel, chief conservation officer at Chitwan National Park, told Xinhua. "We have transferred two rhinos today while remaining three will be sent by this week," the official said.
National park officials, personnel from Nepali Army and Nepal Police, tamers and representatives from various governmental and non-governmental organizations assisted in transferring the rhinos.
Officials said the Shuklaphanta National Park has all necessities, including good habitat and water for the rhinos.
This relocation is part of the decision of Nepalese Ministry of Forest and Soil Conservation in 2015 to transfer 30 one-horned rhinos in total from Chitwan National Park to two national parks within three years.
Five rhinos have already been transferred from Chitwan National Park to Bardiya National Park in March last year.
Chitwan National Park, located some 150 km from the capital city, is renowned for protection of one-horned rhinoceros, Royal Bengal tiger and Gharial Crocodile. According to Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, out of total 645 rhinos in Nepal, 605 are in Chitwan National Park.
In 2001, the national park transferred four rhinos to Shuklaphanta National Park and the rhino population has doubled within one and half decade. After the translocation of rhinos, Shuklaphanta will transfer swamp deer to Chitwan National Park.
