Final Bankojanakari Vol 17-1.pmd


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Banko Janakari, Vol. 17, No. 1Banko Janakari
A journal of  forestry information for Nepal

Dwindling Rhino Population in Nepal:
National Concern

The great one horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), one of  the five surviving
species in the world, has now been confined to about 2500 individuals in some
protected areas of  Nepal and India. Due to the decreasing population of  rhino
in the world, the World Conservation Union (IUCN) has categorized this species
in its red list. Similarly, it has been listed in Appendix I of  CITES. The Government
of  Nepal has classified it as one of  the major protected species.

Nepal’s conservation effort in the past is regarded as noteworthy for the
conservation of  one-horned rhino. About one hundred population of  rhino in
the 1960s increased to 612 in 2000 because of  effective implementation of  the
conservation measures. In recent years, the poaching of  this species has been
ever increasing in spite of  various efforts carried out by the governmental as well
as non-governmental organizations. The official record of  the Department of
National Parks and Wildlife Conservation shows that altogether 122 rhinos were
found dead between 1998 to 2004 while more than 278 rhinos were found dead
due to poaching and natural death during 2000-2007.

Decreasing rhino population is a major concern for conservation of  rhino in
perpetuity. It has brought major conservation threat and greater concern among
the conservationist, civil society and academia as well as general public of  Nepal.
Recently, the Government of  Nepal has approved Rhino Conservation Action
Plan (2006-2011) which could be a significant step for conservation of  rhino in
Nepal. Habitat improvement and strengthening anti-poaching operations coupled
with continued research, database upgrading, reintroduction, capacity building,
trans-boundary cooperation, conflict minimization and sustainable development
are the main features of the Action Plan.

Effective implementation of  the conservation measures based on sound ecological
principles will, no doubt, help in ensuring the future of  rhino in Nepal. For this,
wider commitment and concrete actions from all stakeholders together with
peoples’ participation is inevitable.