Nepal has successfully increased its greater one-horned rhinoceros population by over 16% in recent years. Yet, degraded habitats are causing rhinos to roam beyond protected park boundaries, signaling challenges in sustaining their populations long-term.
- Rhino population in Nepal grew by 16.6% from 2015 to 2021.
- Habitat degradation in Bardiya National Park causes rhinos to roam extensively.
- Conservationists call for habitat restoration and alternative relocation sites.
What happened
Nepal’s efforts to conserve the greater one-horned rhinoceros have led to a population increase from approximately 645 individuals in 2015 to 752 in 2021. This milestone includes establishing new rhino populations in parks such as Bardiya and Shuklaphanta, where rhinos were once extinct or absent.
To understand the rhinos’ use of new habitats, researchers fitted five rhinos with GPS collars after their translocation from Chitwan National Park to Bardiya in 2016-2017. Their movements revealed unusually large home ranges and frequent journeys beyond the park boundaries in search of resources.
Why it feels good
The growth in rhino populations signifies that Nepal’s dedicated conservation and translocation programs are making a positive impact. Bringing back rhinos to areas like Bardiya highlights successful recovery efforts and reflects years of commitment to wildlife protection.
This progress is encouraging for conservationists and local communities alike, as rhinos are a flagship species that support biodiversity and ecotourism. It also demonstrates Nepal's role as a leader in protecting vulnerable species through coordinated, science-based strategies.
What to enjoy or watch next
Challenges remain in ensuring suitable habitats can support healthy, self-sustaining rhino populations. Degraded riverine forests, limited grasslands, and seasonal water scarcity, worsened by events like floods, drive rhinos to seek food and water outside protected areas, increasing chances of human-wildlife conflicts.
Going forward, authorities and conservation groups are considering habitat restoration and possibly shifting focus to alternative locations such as the Karnali floodplain near Bardiya National Park. These steps aim to provide rhinos with stable environments to thrive and reduce risks to humans and wildlife alike.