Chitwan National Park Arrests 34 Suspected Rhino Poachers in Major Crackdown

The Chitwan National Park (CNP) has made a significant breakthrough in its anti-poaching efforts, arresting 34 individuals who had gone into hiding after being suspected of involvement in rhino poaching. This is the largest single-year apprehension of poachers allegedly involved in the illegal hunting of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros.

Chief Conservation Officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun hailed the arrests as a remarkable success in the field of wildlife conservation, noting that this year’s operations have yielded significant results. “We were able to arrest those accused of poaching two rhinos in the Sattarchuli area,” said Purja Pun. He also highlighted the arrest of six individuals charged with poaching pangolin skin, further underscoring the park’s commitment to combating wildlife crime.

In recognition of their outstanding contributions to conservation, several CNP officials were honored by the Basantraj Mishra Foundation. Chief Conservation Officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun, along with Divesh Shrestha, Prem Sharma, and an employee of the Ghariyal Fertility Centre, received a cash award of Rs 300,000 for their dedicated efforts.

The recent crackdown and arrests are seen as a significant achievement in the ongoing fight against poaching and illegal wildlife trade in Nepal, reaffirming Chitwan National Park’s role as a leading force in the protection of endangered species.