Rhinoceros numbers rise in Nepal

KATHMANDU, Nepal, March 24 (UPI) -- The number of the endangered one-horned rhinoceros in the animal's Royal Chitwan National Park habitat in Nepal has gone up by 36 to 408, a new census showed.

The count, which took 16 days to complete, placed the current population at 408, compared to 372 three years ago, Nepalnews.com reported Monday.

"There were 100 male rhinos and 130 female rhinos. We couldn't determine the gender of the remaining 178 during the census exercise," said Shyam Bajimaya, director general of Department of Wildlife Conservation.

The rhino population in the Terai forests along the Nepal-India border had dwindled sharply in recent years mainly due to poaching before conservation efforts were put in place.

The report said rhino census is taken every three years instead of every five years to keep a closer watch on their numbers.

Bajimaya said of the 408, 277 are adults, 51 juveniles and the remaining 80 younger rhinos.