CHITWAN: A young male rhinoceros raised at the National Trust for Nature Conservation in Sauraha has been relocated to the Central Zoo in Lalitpur.
The transfer was carried out on Wednesday evening in accordance with a decision made by the Ministry of Forests and Environment on May 7.
According to Avinash Thapa Magar, the Information Officer at Chitwan National Park, the 23-month-old rhino, nicknamed Maila, had been rescued and brought from Bardiya National Park after being found orphaned. It was nurtured in a controlled environment before being deemed fit for relocation.
The ministry has also approved the transfer of a female rhino, approximately 30 months old, named Puja. However, officials say her transfer has been temporarily postponed after she refused to enter the holding pen. Plans are underway to send her to the zoo in the coming days.
The young rhinos are being relocated to help enhance public awareness and education. Visitors to the Central Zoo will now be able to observe the rhinos up close. Officials note that rhinos raised in captivity are less prone to aggressive behavior, making them safer to house in urban zoos.
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