One Horned Rhino >> Translocation

The Chitwan National Park has good habitat condition which supports a large number of rhinoceros but additional habitat is necessary to ensure the long-term conservation of another viable population of rhinoceros in Nepal. In 1989 the Asian rhino Action Plan recommended for translocation of rhino to wildlife sanctuaries wherever possible, to maintain sub-population containing a minimum of 100 individuals. In mid eighties, a number of animals were reintroduced from Chitwan to other National Parks in India and Nepal, mainly to establish new viable breeding population, to protect this species from extinction due to poaching, natural calamities and diseases. Another purpose of rhino translocation from chitwan was to minimize the conflict with the local villagers residing adjacent to the park border. Since in Chitwan, they caused heavy damage to the agricultural crops and human casualties.

In 1984-85, first experimental translocation of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros from Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India was carried out. Two males and a female from Kaziranga and four females from CNP, Nepal were successfully introduced to Dudhwa, India. In 1986, 13 individuals were translocated from CNP to BNP in the Western Terai. In the successive course of translocation 25, 4, 10 ,6, 5, 10 and 10 rhinos have been successfully translocated from CNP to BNP in 1991,1999,and 2000 (1),2000 (2),2002 and 2003 respectively with the hope that BNP, which is dominated by Sal forest with a mixture of grasslands and riverine forest, could be developed as potential home to second viable population of rhino in Nepal.

The translocation was successes till 2000 as the count 2000 conducted in BNP estimated the population to be 67 as translocated rhinos were around 50 and rest of others were added from reproduction in the new habitat. This suggested that the translocated rhinos have well adapted to their new home and have been successfully reproducing. Four rhinos have also been translocated from CNP to SWR in 2000 and one of the female has already given birth a baby, a positive sign of success in that area.

Translocation of rhino from Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal

TOTAL=91

BG =   Baghmar                      KA = Kasara                           IT = Icharni Island

KH =   Khagendramali            KU = Kumroj                          KT = Kathar

SB =    Sukhibhar                                                                    SL = Sarlahi   

BNP = Bardiya National Park                                                                                   

SWR = Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve                                                                                   

DNPI =Dhuduwa National Park, India