This year, between March 22 and April 10, the one horned-rhino was counted in Nepal. The new National Rhino Count estimates the current number to be around 752 individuals. In 2015 only 645 individuals existed and in the 1960s only 100 of them were alive. The counting was conducted in four national parks, including Chitwan National Park (World Heritage Site).
The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation used 350 trained personnel along with 57 elephants to sweep the jungle area to do a species headcount. While at it they also checked up and collected data on human activity, invasive species and habitat condition in the area. Ghana Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal said to WWF:
“The overall growth in population size is indicative of ongoing protection and habitat management efforts by protected area authorities, despite challenging contexts these past years.”
“This achievement is yet another milestone in Nepal’s conservation journey.”
2021 and 2020 have been good for the rhinos in many countries.
The rhino protection in Africa has never been better. Not one single rhino lost its life or its horn in Kenya last year. An achievement not attained since 1999.
South Africa contains 80% of the continent’s rhinos. 2020 was the sixth year rhino poaching incidents had dropped in the Kruger National Park. The death rate has declined by 60% since 2017.
Hopefully, organizations and people working with conservation will be inspired and hopeful when the efforts provides results.
Picture: © Pramod Neupane/WWF Nepal
