The number of Nepal rhino to increase in ‘exciting’ milestone

The number of one-horned rhinos in Nepal’s wildlife sanctuaries has increased by over a hundred, marking a positive milestone in the Himalayan nation’s conservation efforts.

According to the results of the latest census, Nepal’s rhino population has risen to 752, from 645 in 2015.

Nepal is among only a few countries where greater one-horned rhinos are found. The animal was close to extinction in the last century, and its revival in Nepal and India is regarded as one of the greatest conservation success stories in Asia.

Of the total number of rhinos, more than 90% live in the Chitwan National Park, which is also home to tigers, elephants, leopards, and Gangetic gharials (fish-eating crocodiles).

Following the population increase in recent decades, the rhino’s status has improved from endangered to vulnerable.

Nepali officials said the coronavirus pandemic had helped the animals and their habitat in some ways, as lockdowns gave the rhinos chance to roam freely without tourists following them.