Pushpa and Anjali, the rhinos sent to Koshi Tappu

Chitwan, Sept 26: Two rhinos—Pushpa and Anjali – have been sent to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve from Chitwan National Park (CNP) today. Both rhinos have been sent keeping in separate cages. Information Officer at the CNP, Ganesh Tiwari, said the rhinos were sent to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve under leadership of Chief Conservation Officer at CNP, Dil Bahadur Purja, along with veterinarians.

A team of veterinaries led by Senior Veterinarian Dr Bijay Kumar Shrestha has headed towards Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve. Pushpa and Anjali have been sent to Koshi Tappu after a study carried out by a technical committee showed that Koshi Tappu would become the appropriate habitat for the two rhinos.

The technical team under coordination of the then Deputy Director General of the Department of National Parks and Wildlife Conservation, Bed Kumar Dhakal, had submitted the report after carrying out study in this regard. They would be released in nature only after few days.

The Department had started carrying out study forming a committee after locals demanded to bring rhinos in the Koshi Tappu from Chitwan. Chief Conservation Officer of CNP, Purja said the two female rhinos sent to Koshi were released in Lamital area of the national park on May 14, 2023 after taking care in Sauraha following their rescue before this.

These rhinos, around two and one month of age, had separated from their mother and were rescued from Tamaspur and Kujauli area. They have been named as Pushpa and Anjali. Pushpa’s age is three years and nine months while Anjali is two years and six months old at present. The two animals have been sent to Koshi as they had been venturing into human settlement and pestering. As per the latest rhino census, there are 694 rhinos.

Pushpa and Anjali are not included in the latest census as they had been brought by rescuing them. The total 752 rhinos have been counted throughout the country. A plan has been made to send additional male rhinos to Koshi and release them in nature after the two rhinos to be dispatched today grow up.

CNP had sent rhinos to Bardiya and Shuklaphanta national parks and also gifted some rhinos to foreign countries before this. The translocation of rhinos from CNP had started from 1986. So far 45 male and 55 female rhinos from CNP have been trans-located to other national parks and abroad.