Although Ratnanagar Municipality has spent Rs 30 million to prepare the infrastructure to bring the black rhinoceros from Bardiya and Shuklaphanta, technicians have suggested that the surrounding trees be removed due to the risk of leopards.
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The plan to bring the black deer, which is abundant in the two protected areas of Bardiya and Shuklaphanta National Parks in the west, to the east has been in the making for years. Forest Minister Geeta Chaudhary has included the issue of black deer relocation in her first four decisions.
The Ratnanagar Municipality here had started preparations to bring the black deer from Bardiya and Shuklaphanta National Parks to the Barandabhar forest near Tikauli Chaur in Chitwan seven years ago. Work such as erecting strong fences in the forest area, arranging grass and water has been completed. According to Mayor Pralhad Sapkota, the Ratnanagar Municipality has already prepared the infrastructure by spending about Rs 30 million. But the site for bringing the black deer has not yet been established.
Leopards prey on black deer. There has been confusion about bringing the black deer as there is a constant fear of leopards entering the area where the black deer are kept. ‘There was a risk of leopards entering the enclosure from the trees under the fence. It would be appropriate to cut down and remove those trees before bringing them in,’ said Bishnu Prasad Acharya, Chief Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) of the Divisional Forest Office, Chitwan.
After Forest Minister Chaudhary made the formal decision to relocate the black rhinoceros, the government formed a technical committee. The three-member technical committee, which also included DFO Acharya, has suggested that the trees that pose a threat should be removed even though other things are normal. ‘No such problem was seen in areas like grassland, drinking places, and fences. There is no basis to be confident about the trees,’ he said.
He said that the trees inside and outside the enclosure (fence) were close to each other. He said that since leopards are skilled climbers and can jump, he saw the need to remove the trees. DFO Acharya says that leopards are like the main enemy of the black rhinoceros. He said that as a technician, he is in favor of removing the trees because the black deer brought from outside should be protected. Nearly 20 hectares of land has been fenced to keep the black deer. He said that he saw the need to remove 103 trees outside the fence and 29 trees inside the fence. They are mostly large and old Sal trees. At least a ministerial decision is needed to remove Sal trees. Ratnanagar Municipality Mayor Pralhad Sapkota says that preparations are underway to bring the black deer to Tikauli by next Ashar after completing all the procedures.
DFO Acharya said that 18 black deer, 12 females and 6 males, will be brought to Chitwan from Bardiya and Shuklaphanta National Parks. Mayor Sapkota said that since preparations have been underway for a long time, it is necessary to bring them as soon as possible. Ratnanagar Municipality has also planned to develop it as a tourist area. 'We have built all the infrastructure.' We have said that we will also do security and operation . This area can also be used for tourism,’ said Mayor Sapkota . Chitwan is suitable for black rhinoceros in terms of climate and topography. There is a policy that allows animals from one area to be transferred to another suitable habitat .
Where did the buffalo and the rhinoceros go
In Chitwan, 10 years ago, buffaloes were brought from Koshi Tappu and buffaloes from Shuklaphanta National Park were kept in a fenced forest area . There was an enclosure in the old Padampur area within the Chitwan National Park . But now there are neither buffaloes nor rhinoceros in the enclosure. The introduction of rhinoceros started in the winter of 2073 . In April 2074, buffaloes were also added .
15 antelopes were brought to Chitwan, 12 from Koshi and 3 from the zoo in Lalitpur. After they arrived there, 7 of the antelopes were born. But after floods and tigers entered the enclosure and killed them, all the antelopes died within 6 years in 2079 BS. 7 bison were brought to Chitwan from Shuklaphanta. Two of the antelopes died as soon as they were brought.
Similarly, more antelopes died in the 2074 BS flood. Although it was believed that all the antelopes died in that flood, a single antelope was seen in the Kumroj forest area in Jestha last year. Even due to such a tragic aspect of antelopes and antelopes, technicians are unanimous that no weakness should be made in security before the transfer of black deer.
