17 rhinos die in CNP in past six months

Chitwan / Jan 31: Although the country is celebrating no rhino poaching year for the past three consecutive years, 17 rhinos have died in the Chitwan National Park (CNP) in the past six months, officials said.

The officials however blamed various other causes like natural death, rhino-fighting and delivery complications in the death of rhinos.

The figure is down as compared to the 25 deaths of rhinos in the CNP in the last fiscal year due to various reasons except poaching.

Of them, four rhinos including two babies died after being swept away in a flooding, while a baby rhino was devoured by a tiger, said information officer at the CNP Nurendra Aryal.

Although the average life-expectance of a rhino is 50 years, it grows weaker mentally and physically above 30. Most of the deceased rhinos belonged to a 30- to 35 age group.

According to the 2015 census, the CNP and a forest area in the area had a total of 605 rhinos. RSS