Four arrested for killing rhino in Chitwan

Police have arrested four people on the charge of killing a rhino in Chitwan.

Chitwan National Park's Chief Conservation Officer Dil Bahadur Purja Pun said that they were arrested on the charge of killing a rhino by snaring it in an electric trap at Bharatpur Metropolitan City-26 in Chitwan district recently.

According to Pun, a 13-year-old female pachyderm was found dead in an electric snare that was planted by the villagers to capture wild boars that frequented fields near settlement and ate up crops including maize.

Further investigation into the incident was underway, he said.

At first it appeared that the rhino died due to natural causes but an autopsy of the dead one revealed that it died of electrocution. Police held four persons suspected of killing the pachyderm.

"Although the horns and hooves of the protected animal are safe, activities like injuring, chasing and killing wild animals fall under the smuggling," he explained.

Two suspected ones were arrested on July 23 and two others nabbed on July 25 as part of the investigation. The arrested ones are remanded for additional six days under the Act relating to the Protected Wildlife Smuggling.

The Act has a provision of fine ranging from Rs 500 thousand to Rs 1 million and imprisonment for a term from 5 to 15 years for those involved in such activities.