CHITWAN, Dec 14: Four community forests located in Chitwan's western part have introduced elephant safari with an aim to boost tourism. 

The elephant safari has been started from Devnagar Post, Chitwan National Park (CNP) Chief Conservation Officer, Ram Chandra Kandel said. Nepal's cine actor, Rajesh Hamal, and his better half, Madhu Bhattarai, rode on an elephant to announce the launch of the elephant safari on Tuesday. 

Hamal said he has been visiting Chitwan's tourist hotspots for a very long time, but this is the first time elephant safari has been launched in the western part. 

The elephant safari has been launched in Navajyoti, Batuli, Dakshinkali and Bandevi buffer zone community forests, according to Barandabhar Consumer Committee Chairman, Dev Raj Sapkota. He added that western Chitwan has a high potential for eco-tourism. 

The local villagers have assured that the tourists on elephant safari around the Bishajari lake area, which is included in the World Ramsar list, will be treated to a great deal of the presence of wild animals including different species of birds. The area has numerous lakes including Ratamate, Neure, Kalimati, Veddhari, Mayur, Batulipokhari and Kingfisher among others. 

The locality is also home to tiger, rhino, bear, gaur or Bos gaurus, deer including rare bird species. The four community forests with proper habitation for one-horned rhinos will offer elephant safari in the morning and evening hours. Eight elephants have been permitted to go on elephant safari. RSS 

 
• elephant safari
 
• chitwan
 
• tourism