The female rhino died while undergoing treatment near Tamor pond in the Chitwan National Park.
Post mortem report showed that the rhino was attacked with home-made gun, according to Assistant Protection Officer Ashok Bhandari. The bullets fired by the poachers had pierced through her left ear of the dead rhino.
Local trekking guides had traced the rhino without its horns on February 2. Four days later, the Park authorities had found the injured rhino near Lamital area.Locals have alleged apathy on the part of the Park authorities to check poaching activities to ensure protection of this endangered wildlife species. They had even padlocked the Park’s office demanding proper care for the protection of rhino and other endangered species.
Altogether seven rhinos have been killed by illegal poachers since the rhino census conducted last year. The census had found 408 rhinos in the Chitwan National Park. The number of rhinos now stand at 405 including the four new-born this year.
The Park authorities said they are looking for poachers involved in killing rhinos. However, no one has been arrested so far in connection with the killing of seven rhinos.
Locals and concerned stakeholders alleged nexus between the poachers and the park officials behind this poor state of the endangered species.
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