KATHMANDU, Dec 18: The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has arrested 65 people for various crimes from last October 29 till now. A campaign has been conducted to effectively advance the protection of parks and intermediate areas.
According to CNP Information Officer Avinash Thapa Magar, in order to control illegal activities in the CPN, one person was arrested for tiger-related offences, two for rearing wild boars without permission, 30 for entering the park without permission and cutting grass, 23 for fishing, one for killing pigeons and eight people for entering the park without permission and picking fiddlehead fern (Neuro).
He informed Republica that people who entered the park and engaged in activities contrary to the rules were arrested and actions were taken against them according to the law. Meanwhile, discussions were held with stakeholders to enhance coordination and cooperation among concerned bodies to control poaching, wildlife theft, and illegal trade.
Rescued rhino released into CNP
Magar said that in the last one and a half months, two rhinos and one tiger were found dead in various places within the CNP and the central area. On October 23, a female rhinoceros, estimated to be around 31 years old, was found dead in the Narayani River, submerged in water, within the area of the Majhuwa Community Forest. Similarly, on October 29, another female rhinoceros, approximately 35 years old, was found dead near the Dhruba Post of the CNP. He says that the horns and hooves of both the rhinoceros that died due to natural causes have been safely preserved.
Similarly, he said that a six-year-old tiger was found dead in Nandpurghat of Nawalpur under Amaltari sector on December 1. Magar said that the tiger died in a fight with another tiger. During this period, two people have died and four people have been injured due to rhinoceros attacks.
He further said, on December 5, Chun Bahadur Bote, 65, from Kawasoti-7, Nawalpur, was killed in a rhinoceros attack while he was entering Krishna Sar Madhyavarti Community Forest. Similarly, on November 23, Nathu Ram Mahat, 65, from Madhyabindu-6, Nawalpur, was killed after being attacked by a rhinoceros while planting potatoes in his field.
He said that the CNP is working in cooperation with the community as part of the wildlife protection campaign and will continue the campaign systematically in the winter months.
