Feature: Death of bullet-ridden rhino brings an end to Nepal's zero-poaching record

Owing to the active surveillance of National Park authorities and with cooperation from security forces and conservation partners, the population of one-horned rhinos had risen to 645 marking the highest number on record of this endangered species in the Himalayan country.

But the Nepalese government's remarkable achievement of having stamped out poaching for two straight years, came crashing to a brutal halt after a rhino was found peppered with bullets in a forest.

Despite all the effective anti-poaching activities instituted, a one-horned rhino was found injured with six bullets in the forest of Rautahat, an eastern district in Narayani zone, on August 20. The injured 15-year-old male rhino was immediately rescued and transferred to a community forest in Sauraha by the Chitwan National Park.

The bullet-ridden beast, eventually succumbed to the poacher's attack, however, and the animal could not be saved, drawing its last gasp on Tuesday afternoon.

"Right after the rescue, we had mobilized a health and security team around the injured rhino. We were successful in removing one bullet after a few days and used all the available resources to increase its immunity," Narendra Aryal, information officer at Chitwan National Park, told Xinhua by phone on Wednesday.

"Its condition was significantly improving, but unfortunately it took a turn for the worst," the officer said.

The health condition of the injured rhino was critical as it had received five bullets near its head and one more in its back. According to the officials at National Park, the wounded rhino couldn't even lift its head and graze in the initial days following the dramatic rescue.

However, its condition gradually improved after being monitored for 24 hours by a medical team, while the Nepal Army stood guard. The rhino was receiving emergency treatment under the leadership of Dr. Kamal Gaire, a senior doctor in the national park.

Prior to its death, the rhino had started moving slightly as it showed initial signs of recovering. But 17 days into its rescue and recovery treatment, it was found slumped on the ground and was subsequently declared dead.

"On Monday evening, two rhinos were seen fighting with each other near the wounded rhino. The scene must have caused him anxiety and may have stressed him out," Aryal added.

The injured rhino was receiving antibiotics and saline water in the last few days. And while one of the bullets had been removed, five others were wreaking havoc inside its giant body. Some claim that the life of the magnificent animal could have been saved with the provision of better medical equipment.

Narayan Dhungana, a senior journalist based near Chitwan National Park, told Xinhua, "I visited the park right after the rescue and was very close to the injured rhino several times. Its health was definitely improving. But the doctors failed to remove all the bullets. If we had modern equipment to treat the wounds as in foreign countries, including the latest x-ray machines, its life would be saved."

However, the Chitwan National Park, which is home for more than 600 rhinos in the country, claimed that it used all possible resources to try and save the rhinos life.

Information Officer Aryal told Xinhua, "The medical team that treated the rhino are experts not only in Nepal but across the whole of Asia and tried every option and technique available."

"We have been treating other injured rhinos, tigers and elephants using the same equipment so there is no question about a lack of technology. The injuries sustained were huge so the chance of life became low," Aryal said, adding that rhinos can weigh as much as 2,500 kilograms.

The national park has formed a team to probe the incident, comprised of its officials and those of the Central Bureau of Investigation.

Rhinos are regularly killed by poachers for their body parts and skin, especially for their one-horn, which are worth thousands of dollars on some black markets. Their horn is also regarded as a traditional medicine in some countries.

The World Wildlife Fund (WWF), which supports rhino conservation in Nepal, had mentioned earlier on its website, "Nepal achieved its first 365 days of zero poaching for rhinos in 2011. Three times since then it has not lost a single rhino to poachers over the course of 365 days."

The last one-horned rhino poached in Nepal was on May 2, 2014 as per the records. The records also showed in fiscal year beginning in 2001, 37 rhinos were killed in a single year.

Basu Bidari, a wildlife conservationist told Xinhua, "It is unfortunate that the record of zero-poaching years ends with this incident. But the latest efforts of the government are truly praiseworthy. There are lessons to be learned, I am sure it will put a whole lot more effort to maintain its zero-poaching status in the coming days." Endit