The rhino census, conducted every three years, has been postponed indefinitely in Bardiya due to a lack of funds.
Bardiya National Park announced that the census, which was scheduled for March this year, will not take place because of financial constraints. The counting was previously supported by foreign donors, but funding has been halted this year, affecting the census process.
According to Ashok Ram, Chief Conservation Officer of Bardiya National Park, the funding shortage has not only impacted Bardiya but also the national-level rhino census. About four months ago, the park conducted a monitoring survey to assess the rhino population and their condition.
During the last census, 26 rhinos were counted in Bardiya. The survey involved park officials, Nepal Army personnel, technical teams from the National Trust for Nature Conservation, and 10 elephants.
It is estimated that more than a dozen rhinos have moved to the Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary in India. In the 2022 census, 38 rhinos were recorded in Bardiya. Experts believe some rhinos may have migrated to India in search of water, as the Geruwa River, which flows through Bardiya National Park, has dried up.
