A study of the reasons for an increase in poaching of the one-horned Indian rhinoceros in Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal

Despite a relatively successful conservation programme for the one-horned rhinoceros in national parks of the Terai region, poaching has been one of the major threats to the survival of the rhinoceros, an endangered species in Nepal. This study uses a model to explain the level of poaching in Royal Chitwan National Park (RCNP) over a 30-year period, based on the factors that are thought to influence poaching in the Terai. The results indicate that anti-poaching units (APUs), in their original organisational and operational form were highly successful in controlling the level of poaching in RCNP. Further, the availability of economic opportunities locally seemed to reduce the level of poaching significantly. However, the penalties imposed on the convicted poachers were found to have little or no effect on the level of rhino poached in RCNP. The results also indicate a sharp rise in the number of rhinos poached since the start of a Maoist insurgency in 1996. These results will be helpful in formulating effective policies to tackle the growing problem of rhino poaching in Nepal, especially in and around RCNP, since this national park holds the largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros in the country.