As the number of the rare one-horned rhinoceros increases, it results death in fights and swamps. When a large number of rhinos are in one place, it is estimated that the number of deaths due to natural causes has increased due to lack of proper habitat.
So far in the current fiscal year, 25 rhinos have died due to natural causes. According to Chitwan National Park Information Officer Ganesh Prasad Tiwari, seven of the victims died in the fighting and six fell into the swamp. A third of the four tigers attacked during this period, two of which were swept away by floods, and two of which died of old age. The cause of the two could not be ascertained.
During this period, two rhinos have died due to poaching. According to him, the number of rhinos dying due to fighting has been increasing in recent years. According to the latest census, there are 692 rhinos in the park. As the number increases, grasslands and water resources do not increase.
According to Hari Bhadra Acharya, chief conservation officer of the park, the number of rhinos is increasing in the western part of the park. Although there are no reliable statistics, he said that about 70 percent of the rhinos are headquartered in the western region from Kasara. He said that the park has a proposal to relocate rhinos from east to west, manage sample grasslands and increase water resources to reduce the death rate due to natural causes.
Officials from the Ministry of Forest and Environment and the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation are positive about the need for rhino internal relocation and grassland management. He said that if these works could be done, the number of deaths due to fighting and falling into the swamp could be reduced. It has been found that when there are many rhinos in one place, they fight with each other and when they run weak, they fall into the swamp and die. Rhinoceros calves fleeing after being chased by tigers have fallen into the swamp and died.
Conservation Officer Acharya said that the density would be reduced if the distribution were proportional. Chitwan is considered good for the rare one horned rhinoceros. There are 8,995.02 hectares of grassland in this park. These areas need to be managed regularly. Due to lack of budget, it has been managed in small areas. Regular sanitation and management of water resources has been reduced due to lack of budget.
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