National Trust for Nature Conservation, Nepal

Location: Bardia National Park and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve
Project leader: Shant Raf Jnawali
Project partners: Bational Trust for Nature Conservation, Zoological Society of London
Rhino species: Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)
Rhino numbers: Approximately 26
Activities: Anti-poaching and monitoring
Support: We gave a one-off grant from the EAZA Rhino Campaign
Funding partner: EAZA Rhino Campaign

Greater one-horned rhinoceros are restricted to small protected areas primarily in north-eastern India and Nepal (Chitwan National Park-CNP, Bardia National Park-BNP and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve-SWR). These rhinos are highly vulnerable due to intensification of agriculture and habitat loss, a burgeoning human population and poaching. Furthermore, Nepal has been facing dramatic socio-economic and political challenges over the last decade that negatively impacted the recovery of rhino; which had previously shown considerable progress.

Numbers in CNP increased from 100 animals in the early 1980s to 544 in 2000 allowing establishment of founder groups in BNP and SWR (83 and 4 rhinos were translocated between 1986 and 2003 to BNP and SWR respectively). However, there has been a significant decline since then to probably fewer than 370 today in CNP and fewer than 30 in BNP, with only SWR sustaining growth to 7 individuals. CNP still holds the second highest population in the world and for this and its other endangered species, such as the Bengal tiger (also in decline) and Asian wild elephant, has been designated a World Heritage Site. As such, CNP has tended to receive the majority of the attention and of international funding support. It is now imperative that Bardia National Park receives funding to support its anti-poaching and monitoring work.

Poaching (both opportunistic and organised), during the period of transition from political autocracy to the return of a representative government, is considered the main cause of the recent decline. Mortality and recruitment are poorly understood due to a relatively inadequate monitoring system and infrequent census; this raises serious concerns. Underlying causes for the decline include weakening anti-poaching and law enforcement, marginalised communities as well as poor integration and coordination of stakeholders. There is an urgent need to address these problems and this is now possible as the National security situation has eased and stakeholders are willing to participate in a project of this sort. Given the potential for a concerted effort from multiple stakeholders, without the corruption and centrally-dominated policies that previously hindered staff on the ground, much progress could be made with relatively small investment. In addition, sanctuary approaches (or intensively managed rhino conservation areas), proven so successful in Africa, may be the only way of conserving the species in the short term, given the continuing demand for rhino horn in neighbouring East Asia. The training and actions on the ground will result in increased patrol effort, anti-poaching and monitoring capability and will improve knowledge on rhino numbers, distributions and poaching threats. Improved metapopulation management will also increase the resilience in the system and ensure the rhino population is protected across a wider community base, which was such an important element in the recovery of rhinoceros in Africa.

The EAZA Rhino Campaign grant paid for equipment to support the anti-poaching and monitoring teams in Bardia NP and Suklaphanta WR, including motorbikes, bicycles, rafts, torches, sleeping bags, mattresses, tents, rucksacks, cooking devices and waterbottles, and GPSs, digital cameras, binoculars, battery chargers and memory cards.