In an effort to improve measures to monitor endangered rhinos in the protected area, the Bardiya National Park (BNP) authority has trained Nepal Army personnel on identifying individual rhinos and keeping track of them.

Considering the sensitiveness of certain areas inside the park to poachers and loggers, the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) has decided to involve the Army in an ID-based monitoring programme that will help keep close watch on every individual rhino and study their movements and status on a day-to-day basis.

Between 2001 and 2003, more than 70 rhinos translocated from other conservation sites were killed inside the BNP by poachers.

Though NA personnel have been deployed in all protected areas and wildlife reserves inside the country for protection and regular patrolling of the endangered wildlife, the session trained soldiers for the first time to use equipment such as camera, binoculars and Global Positioning System, said Maheshwar Dhakal, spokesperson for the DNPWC.

ID-based rhino monitoring has already been started in Chitwan National Park in selected areas. Ramesh Kumar Thapa, chief conservation officer at the BNP, said around 40 soldiers were trained for ID-based monitoring. The team would conduct daily patrols.