KATHMANDU: The census, typically held every five years, will not be conducted this year due to financial limitations, according to Ramchandra Kandel, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
Kandel explained that in previous years, the census was carried out with the support of donor agencies, but this year, the necessary assistance has not been secured. Furthermore, the government has not allocated any budget for maintaining regular records of rhinos.
Although the formal census will not take place, the department intends to assess the rhino population through indirect methods. Kandel assured that park staff would be mobilized to monitor the signs of each rhino in the parks, providing a comprehensive understanding of the current situation.
“Although the exact number will not be made public like the census, the situation can be identified in detail based on the signs of each rhino,” he said.
The one-horned rhinos, which inhabit national parks in Chitwan, Parsa, Bardiya, and Shuklaphanta, have seen varying numbers over the years.
The most recent census, conducted in 2021, revealed that Chitwan National Park has the highest number of rhinos, with 694 one-horned rhinos recorded at that time. Bardiya, Shuklaphanta, and Parsa together house a smaller number of rhinos, with 38, 18, and three respectively.
Historically, the rhino population in Nepal has fluctuated. From 800 rhinos in 1950, the population declined significantly over the decades, hitting a low of just 100 in 1965. Since then, conservation efforts have helped the population rebound, with 645 rhinos recorded in 2015.
The department has been collaborating with donor agencies to maintain these efforts and monitor the population through indirect methods in the absence of the formal census this year.
Comment