Two rhinoceroses have died of natural causes in Chitwan National Park (CNP). A calf was found dead at the location inhabited by wild buffaloes at Purano Padampur while a dead male adult rhino was discovered at Dumariya.
CNP Information Officer Lokendra Adhikari said the dead rhino calf of one and a half year old was found on Wednesday. As no wound was seen on the body of the calf, it is estimated that it died due to cold. The CNP said vets were trying to establish the exact cause of its death.
Similarly, a 30-year-old male rhino was found dead at the Park's Belsaharghat area on Thursday. Adhikari said it might have also died due to natural causes. The horns and the hooves of both the dead rhinos are intact. A three months old rhino calf was found dead in a similar condition in Nawalparasi area last month.
Twenty-two rhinos have died in the CNP so far since the last seven months. Of these, four were killed by poachers, CNP stated. Patrolling has been intensified in and around the Park in recent days after an increment in poachers' activities.
Twenty-six rhinos had died of natural causes last year.
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