Nepal Rhino Population increased by 21%

Nepal; Nepal's rhino population has increased by 21% since the last count conducted in 2011 to reach to 645. There were 534 rhinos recorded in 2011 census. The Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation made public the result of a nationwide rhino count in a press meet in Chitwan National Park on 5^th May 2015. Thirty four elephants and 134 staff were deployed for nearly a month long census starting from April 7, 2015 to May 2, 2015. Altogether 1,024 elephant-days and 5,099 man-days were expended to carry out the count. The rhino count was led by the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation together with the Department of Forests with support from National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC) and WWF Nepal. The census counted 605 rhinos in Chitwan National Park and surrounding area, 29 in Bardiya National Park, eight in Shuklaphata Wildlife Reserve and three in Parsa Wildlife Reserve. The rhino population in Nepal had decreased to a historic low to about 100 in the 1960s which was believed to be around 800 in the 1950s. But the trend was reverted and there has been a constant increase in the number since 1970s after the establishment of Chitwan National Park in 1973. The increasing trend saw a break during the insurgency period between 2000 and 2007. However, after the restoration of peace in 2008, the rhino population regained its size and is constantly increasing. Nepal has the greater one horned rhino which is one of the four remaining rhino species in the world and currently survives in India and Nepal only.  There are only 3000 of the species left in the wild.