The Chitwan National Park (CNP) completed a second year of zero poaching of endangered rhino on Monday.  

Conservationists, CNP employees and security personnel were elated at their feat of having protected the pachyderm from poachers for 730 days.

“We are very happy to mark zero rhino poaching year for the second consecutive year. We have created a history due to the support and cooperation from one and all,” said Chief Conservation Officer at the CNP Ramchandra Kandel, while calling for similar cooperation to maintain the record in future.

The security personnel, who were deployed in the park also expressed satisfaction. “Soldiers were deployed from dawn to dusk for the park security. We are very happy to be marking the second consecutive year of zero poaching,” said Colonel Madhav Thapa of Nepal Army’s Shreejung Battalion.  

The CNP has now launched an interaction programme among the consumers in buffer zones.

“We are now holding discussion with the consumers’ committee in 22 buffer zones. Discussions will mostly centre around conservation efforts, possible challenges and future strategies on wildlife conservation,” said Kandel.

A rhino census in 2015 counted 645 rhinos in Nepal, of which 605 were in the CNP. “Thanks to high rate of breeding, the park now has an estimated 650 rhinos. The population could reach 800 within three years,” said Kandel.