Nepal: Pushpa
and Anjali the translocated female rhinos from
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Every day
four-year-old Pushpa and three-year-old Anjali come out of their cages in the
Pathari sector at 6 am and graze in the grasslands along with the reserve’s
elephant all day before returning to their enclosures in the evening. The
reserve employees have managed grass feed for the pachyderms in the enclosure
too.
Pushpa and
Anjali were relocated to Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve, the major habitat of
wild water buffaloes (Arna in Nepali), on September 27. The Federal Ministry of
Environment, based on the recommendations of conservationists and technicians,
granted permission for the translocation of six rhinos from the
“Pushpa and
Anjali have adjusted well to their new environment. They haven’t shown any
abnormal activities as of now,” said Birendra Gautam, Koshi Conservation Centre
chief of the National Trust for Nature Conservation (NTNC). According to him,
around two hectares of forest land near Pathari Wildlife Rescue Centre in
Saptari district has been allocated as pasture for the two rhinos.
“The pasture has
been fenced to avoid the intrusion of other animals,” Gautam said. An
artificial pond has also been constructed in the grassland. According to
conservationists, Pushpa and Anjali often go to the nearby
In 2017, sixteen
water buffaloes had been translocated
to Chitwan from Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve despite protests
from the locals. They were housed in a 30-hectare enclosure at a grassland in
Padampur. All the shifted bovines died within five years due to the constant
floods and tiger attacks.
Conservationists
are optimistic regarding the successful translocation of rhinos in Koshi Tappu
Wildlife Reserve. They argue that the reserve has a favourable climate for the
pachyderms and there are no hunting animals like tigers and leopards in the
reserve’s forests.
“The
translocated rhinos are now in good condition. The pastureland is made safe for
them. Koshi Tappu Wildlife Reserve is becoming a suitable habitat for rhinos,”
said Gautam.
Pushpa and
Anjali were both rescued in Chitwan at different times. Pushpa was rescued as a
two-year-old separated from her mother. Anjali was only one month old when she
was rescued. Both of them have grown up under human supervision in Chitwan
before being released into their natural habitat in May this year.
The employees of
the reserve, the NTNC, and tamed elephants have been mobilised to look after
Pushpa and Anjali.
Ramesh
Kumar Yadav, chief at the reserve, said that efforts are on to shift a male rhino
soon. A female rhino generally seeks a partner for mating after four years of
age. The conservationists hope there will be breeding opportunities for female
rhinos if male rhinos are introduced into the habitat.
“Necessary
preparations are on to bring a male rhino. However, we have immediate concerns
for Anjali since the male rhino can attack her since she is still young,” said
Yadav.
According to
Yadav, a feasibility study regarding the translocation of tigers to the
wildlife reserve is also underway. Federal Minister for
The reserve
spread over an area of 176 sq km in Sunsari, Saptari and Udayapur districts was
established in 1976. As per the latest census conducted in 2021, there are a
total of 498 water buffaloes in the reserve. It is also home to 20 other animal
species including hog deer, wild boar, spotted deer, blue bull, rock python and
441 bird species.
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