The scheduled five-year rhino census has been suspended this year due to a lack of funds, according to Ram Chandra Kandel, Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation.
The census, previously conducted with support from donor agencies, could not proceed as no government budget was allocated for regular rhino population tracking. However, the department will rely on park posts and individual rhino signals to assess their status.
Kandel stated that while an exact count may not be possible, efforts will be made using park resources and manual observation to monitor rhino populations. One-horned rhinos are found in Chitwan, Parsa, Bardiya, and Shuklaphanta National Parks. The last census in 2021 recorded 752 rhinos nationwide, with Chitwan National Park housing the highest number at 694.
Nepal’s rhino population has fluctuated over the years, from 800 in 1950 to 645 in 2015. The survey remains crucial for conservation, and authorities hope to resume it when resources become available.
