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Rhino count 2000 in and around CNP

In Nepal, rhinoceros population was estimated at about 1000 animals until 1950 in Chitwan Valley. Eradication of malaria opened up the valley for outsiders during 1950. Above hundred thousands people, attracted by highly fertile land, moved from mid hills and cleared large tracts of forestlands for settlement and agricultural expansion. This not only destroy the jungle areas but also greatly affected wildlife population, as illegal killing of wild animals was also conspicuous as early as mid 1950s. Poaching of animals mainly affected large mammals including rhinoceros. As a result, rhinoceros population dropped down to less than 100 individuals during late 1960s. Realising the rapid decline in rhinoceros population, Nepal's Government declared remaining prime rhinos habitats of about 544 sq.km along Rapti, Narayani and Reu rivers as Royal Chitwan National Park (now Chitwan National Park). The park was later extended to encompass a total area of 932 sq.km. After a successful effort of Department of National Park and Wildlife Conservation (DNPWC) disappearing population had increased to 270-310 individuals by 1975 with 73 (32.3%) adult females, 45 (19.9%) adult males, 48 (21.2%) subadults and 60 (26.6%) calves.

In 1994, DNPWC in collaboration with Resources Nepal and King Mahendra Trust For Nature Conservation (now National Trust For Nature Conservation), launched a Count Rhino program in Chitwan and estimated a maximum population size of 466 individuals with 250 adults, 100 subadults, 2 unknown and 144 young in and around CNP.

In an interval of five years, it is customary to know the status of this mega -herbivores population for the management purpose as well as scientific point of view. Looking at the situation where the rhinoceros population in Chitwan seemed to have been increased as noticeable number of animals were being observed straying outside the park boundary. Therefore, Rhino Count was proposed to determine population size of rhinoceros in CNP and surrounding areas as well as provide guidelines for long-term conservation and management of this critically endangered species. This rhino census was needed so as to monitor the population trend in the CNP and to update the database of the rhino habitat for the development of time specific activities for long-term rhino conservation.

Methods

The census of rhinoceros population in Chitwan was carried out by same methodology used in 1994 Rhino Count developed by Laurie (1982) and Dinerstrin and Price (1991). To ensure accuracy of count whole rhino-range including community forests and national forests outside CNP were divided into different blocks. The census areas were divided into Ramauli Pratappur east to Khagendramalli, Sauraha, Narayani west, Bandar Jhoola, Bote Simara south, Nagarban and Tikauli north. Each rhino sighted were recorded in a pre-set data sheet confirming by the adjacent observers if necessary. This method has already been proven most effective, practical and reliable method to estimate population size of mega herbivore like rhinoceros. Rhinoceros were counted by well trained wildlife biologists, wildlife technicians riding in domestic elephants. To avoid double counting, efforts were made to confirm by the two observers if confusion happened of each observed individual. The field crew member each morning synchronized their wrist watches to locate exact time activities of individuals. The basis to identify individuals include shape and size of horn, folds present in the neck and rump, special body marking (cuts, scars, skin lobes) and any other special characteristic of animals body. Special attention was given to differentiate the sex of observed rhinoceros during census to estimate sex ratio of Chitwan population.

Coordination and Task Force

Late Dr. T.M. Maskey, DG/DNPWC was the chairman of Central Level Rhino Census Coordination Committee with the members of Late Dr. Chandra Gurung, CR/WWF Nepal, Mr. JayPratap Rana MS/KMTNC and Late Mr. Narayan Prasad Poudel, Chief Ecologist/DNPWC. It guided and coordinated the field level team and organized support for the funds needed for census.

Field level task force team was nominated by the department on the coordinatorship of Chief Warden of CNP Mr. Gopal Prasad Upadhyay. Team members were Mr. Narendra Man Babu Pradhan, DNPWC, Dr. Shanta Raj Jnawali, BCP/KMTNC, Dr. Mukesh Kumar Chalise, RTCPA/DNPWC-UNDP/GEF and Mr. Top Bahadur Khatri, NCRTC/KMTNC.

A total of 55 Hattisar personal and 23 observers were engaged in this census program. Besides the task force members, wildlife technicians and staffs from CNP and NCRTC took part in the census. 23 domestic elephants were used from CNP, PWR and KMTNC.

Funding

The census of CNP rhinos was supported by WWF Nepal program and DNPWC-UNDP/GEF.

Duration

Census team worked for 22 days in and around the park area to census the rhino and two more days for the confirmation of indirect rhino number and sex. More than three weeks altogether was spent during the development of the proposal, fund raising, preliminary information collection and management of technicians and elephants.

Result

A total of 544 rhinos were counted in and around the CNP. Among the direct counted 536 individuals, 332 were adults, 87 sub-adult and 117 calves were identified. Among the adults 56% were female while 41% were male and 3% individuals could not be identified sexually. Among the sub-adult 87 rhinos 52% were female while 39% were male and 9% of them could not be identified by sex. Among the calves male percentages were higher of 49% while female baby rhinos were only 29% and 22% of them could not be identified sexually.

It was found that growth of rhino number in CNP is 104 since 1994 (taking minimum data of '94 census, 446), which comes an annual increment of 3.88%. Translocated 14 rhinos were not in this census as well as 8 rhinos in 2057 were also not included. The census number was encouraging in the sense that since 1995 nearly 99 rhinos were recorded dead in Chitwan area by different reasons.