Nepal's Rhino Revival Faces Habitat Challenges

Nepal increased its greater one-horned rhinoceros population by 16.6% between 2015 and 2021, reaching 752 individuals, and successfully translocated rhinos to Bardiya and Shuklaphanta national parks. Researchers tracking five relocated rhinos in Bardiya National Park found they roam unusually large areas due to fragmented forests, limited grasslands, and water scarcity.

Massive floods in 2015 and 2017 damaged the Babai Valley within Bardiya, reducing crucial habitat for thermoregulation and leading rhinos to venture into community forests and farmlands, causing human-wildlife conflict. Wildlife guides report a decline in rhino sightings within the park’s core areas.

Experts now suggest prioritizing the Karnali floodplain as a more suitable habitat and emphasize that conservation efforts must focus on habitat restoration alongside population growth to ensure long-term rhino survival.