Chitwan National Park (CNP) has reported over 72,000 visitors and revenue exceeding Rs 100 million from mid-July to mid-December in the current fiscal year. Among the visitors, foreign tourists outnumbered domestic ones, marking a notable shift in visitor demographics.

According to Avinash Thapa Magar, CNP's Information and Conservation Officer, 33,730 foreign tourists visited the park during the period, surpassing the 32,880 domestic visitors. Additionally, 5,851 tourists from South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC) countries were recorded.

The park collected Rs 106.71 million in revenue during this five-month period, indicating the significant contribution of tourism to its operations and conservation efforts.

During the same period, the park released 41 gharial crocodiles reared at the Gharial Breeding Center in Kasara into their natural habitat. Of these, 40 were female, and one was male, released in three phases into the Rapti River, Thapa Magar informed.

He also highlighted ongoing efforts to protect wildlife and prevent poaching, including collaboration with local communities and the preparation of detailed action plans.

Rhino Relocation for Conservation
In response to the increasing number of rhinos in the park’s western region and the threat of flooding from the Narayani River, preparations are underway to relocate some rhinos to the eastern region of the park. This measure aims to ensure better habitat management and reduce risks to the species.

A recent interaction involving various stakeholders has been held as part of the preparations for rhino relocation. The discussion included participation from senior ecologist Haribhadra Acharya, Senior Conservation Officer Dr. Ganesh Panta, the battalion commander of the New Gorakh Battalion, divisional forest officers, chairs of buffer zone users' committees, tourism committee officials, businesspersons, and local representatives.

The stakeholders emphasized the importance of community involvement in wildlife conservation and discussed strategies to enhance the park's protection measures.

Chitwan National Park remains a crucial hub for biodiversity conservation and ecotourism, showcasing Nepal's commitment to balancing wildlife preservation with sustainable tourism.