National
Army starts training for operation to protect CNP animals
A special team from the Nepal Army has started training for “Operation Maha Hunt” to protect one-horned rhinos and other endangered animals in the Chitwan National Park (CNP).A special team from the Nepal Army has started training for “Operation Maha Hunt” to protect one-horned rhinos and other endangered animals in the Chitwan National Park (CNP).
CNP Chief Conservation Officer Ram Chandra Kandel said the operation, which will begin from December end, will have a separate NA contingent to patrol the park on elephants, jeeps, motorcycles, boats and foot. Sniffer dogs will also be used on patrol, he added.
The NA has been conducting such operation in the CNP for the last four years, during the period when poaching incidents go up in the park.
Kandel said ever since the CNP and the NA began organising anti-poaching operations four years ago, there has been a significant decline in poaching incidence.
The operation will last till the start of next monsoon.
There are 605 rhinos, 120 tigers and 311 Gauri Gai (Bos Gaurus) in the CNP.
Tiger census begins
Meanwhile, tiger census has kicked off in the CNP. Nurendra Aryal, CNP information officer, said camera traps have been installed by dividing the park’s territory into three blocks to count the number of tigers.
The census is expected to take around 40 days to complete. Besides camera trap technology, the park authority has also mobilised over 60 of its employees and 10 elephants on census duty.
According to 2013 census, the number tigers in the country stood at 198, of which 120 were counted in CNP, 50 in Bardiya National Park, 17 in Shuklaphanta National Park, seven in Parsa National Park, and four in Banke National Park.