Rhinoceros Found Dead in Eastern Nawalparasi Suspected to Have Died from Electric Shock

A rhinoceros found dead in Syaulee Tol, Ward No. 1 of Kawasoti Municipality, Eastern Nawalparasi, is suspected to have been killed by electric shock. A technical team from Chitwan National Park conducted a postmortem on the dead rhino, with the report expected by this evening. In the current fiscal year, 20 rhinos have died in the park and surrounding areas from various causes, and the rhino census has been postponed to 2083 BS. (May 16, Chitwan)

The rhino, found dead on Friday morning, was located approximately 2 kilometers north of the East-West Highway within a government-owned field used by Bhim Prasad Darji in Syaulee Tol. The approximately 25-year-old male rhino was discovered deceased inside this field. Near the carcass, the Division Forest Office of Eastern Nawalparasi recovered materials commonly used to set up electric fences.

After transporting the rhino to the Division Forest Office, a technical team from Chitwan National Park performed a postmortem examination. Avinash Thapamagar, the park’s information officer, said the report would be available by this evening. Following the postmortem, one rhino skin and twelve hooves were carefully preserved, while the remaining body parts were buried within the premises of the Division Forest Office in Nawalpur. During a search around the site, 27 bamboo stakes tied with GI wire were found hidden approximately 200 meters south of the carcass near the Lokaha River’s bank at Kasaghara.

Additionally, about 13 meters of single-phase electrical wire with a ring was found northwest of the site near a nearby house. Based on the materials and the circumstances found at the scene, the preliminary assessment suggests the rhino died due to electric shock. Following this, Bhim Prasad Darji, the occupant who uses the land, has been taken into custody for investigation. The Division Forest Office has appointed an investigative officer to further probe the incident and proceed with necessary actions, according to information officer Subas Adhikari.

According to information officer Thapamagar, up to the month of Baisakh in the current fiscal year, 20 rhinos have died in the park and surrounding areas from various reasons. Although a rhino census was planned for this fiscal year, it has been postponed to next year due to time constraints. Previously, the census scheduled for 2081 BS was rescheduled to 2082 BS due to budget constraints, and again delayed to 2083 BS because of time limitations. The rhino census, conducted every four years, was last performed from Chaitra 9 to 27, 2077 BS (March 23 to April 8, 2021). The 2021 census reported a total of 752 rhinos across the country’s national parks and conservation areas, with 694 of those residing in Chitwan National Park alone.