header banner

Rhino poaching rampant despite beefed-up security

alt=
By No Author
CHITWAN, June 9: In a stark contrast to the construction of increasing number of security posts inside the Chitwan National Park (CNP), more one-horn rhino continue to fall prey to poachers.  What renders wildlife officials speechless is that there has been no let-up in poaching of the endangered despite the fact that new security posts are being constructed for the security of animals. [break]



A case in point is the killing of three rhino in this month alone and the increased number of security posts from 47 to 38.



Park officials during the insurgency period had expected that cases of rhino poaching would go down automatically once the conflict ends in the country. However, years have elapsed since the then rebel party CPN (Maoist) joined the peace process, but the poaching of rhino is still rampant.



From the time last census was carried out, 16 rhino were already killed. It seems that park officials were not satisfied with all arrangements.



"The present strategy is not enough for the protection of wild animals," said Ganesh Panta, assistant conservation officer of the CNP. Now we are preparing to move ahead chalking out new strategy, he said.



Another conservation officer said adding security posts will not alone control poaching. "Without the full participation of locals, protection of wild creatures is nearly impossible," said Bashu Dhungana.



As 2010 is going to be marked as the ´Best Year of Rhino´, conservationists stress on the need for making a dramatic difference in rhino protection by intensifying the patrols, stopping the encroachment of park area, where poachers have made rhino an easy target and involvement local communities in protection.



They also emphasized on detecting and destroying snares and traps left by poachers before they can harm the park´s wildlife and obtaining leads on the location of traps and act as a deterrent to would-be poachers.



Related story

One-horned rhino 'no poaching' reaches 516 days

Related Stories
SPECIAL

Rhino killing challenges CNP’s security mechanism

Rhino-poaching.jpg
SOCIETY

Escape of rhino poaching convicts poses new conser...

Rhino_20201004120338.jpg
Editorial

Curbing rhino poaching

Rhino_20201004120338.jpg
SOCIETY

One arrested on charge of rhino poaching

1604488908_arrested-1200x560-1200x560_20210731112240.jpg
SOCIETY

Absconding rhino poacher arrested

Arrest_20201217120508.jpg