Kathmandu, September 28
A rhinoceros believed to have been swept away by the Narayani River from Chitwan National Park and its buffer zone has reached Susta in Nawalparasi (Bardaghat-Susta West).
The rhino, estimated to be around five years old, was spotted in Susta Rural Municipality-4 on Monday morning.
Abinas Thapa Magar, information officer at Chitwan National Park, said park officials began monitoring the rhino after receiving information that it had been swept downstream.
“We are carrying out reconnaissance of the rhino and preparing for its rescue,” Thapa Magar said.
He said the rhino would likely have to be darted and sedated before being transported back either by boat or through Indian territory. As Susta lies in Nawalparasi, reaching the area by land requires passing through India.
Floods sweep rhino downstream
The rhino is believed to have been swept away during the major flooding in the Narayani River on Saturday and Sunday.
Thapa Magar said other rhinos and wildlife may also have been swept into India by the floodwaters.
A similar incident occurred in 2017 when major flooding in the Rapti and Narayani rivers swept several rhinos downstream towards Susta and into Indian territory. According to Ram Chandra Kadel, who was then the chief conservation officer of Chitwan National Park, 12 rhinos that had reached Indian territory were rescued and brought back to Nepal.
He said coordination with officials of India’s Valmiki Tiger Reserve helped facilitate the rescue operation at the time.
Officials suspect that some rhinos may have reached India this year as well because of the scale of the flooding.
The park said rhinos swept away by the Rapti River in areas including Meghauli and Khairahani during this weekend’s floods have managed to return to land on their own. A deer was also rescued from Shishuwar in Bharatpur Metropolitan City-17.
The latest rhino census recorded 694 rhinos in Chitwan National Park. Officials believe the unusually large volume of water in the Narayani this year, combined with the growing rhino population, may have resulted in more animals being swept away.
