Chitwan, March 7, 2018: In order to avert the injuries and disease born-deaths of wild animals in the district, for the very first time in Nepal, Wildlife Hospital is being constructed in Sauraha of Chitwan district.
According to THT online, stakeholders along with wildlife conservationists and wildlife lovers have been elated with the construction of the hospital in the area.
Narendra Regmi, Assistant Conservation Officer, Chitwan National Park said that rhinos mostly get injured while they come across each other and most of them die due to lack of timely medical treatment and infections inflicted by injuries. Tiger, Leopard, Cheetal, Deer, Boar, and Blue Bull also die due to lack of treatment on time.
Nepal Government, Denver Zoo of United States of America and World Wildlife Fund have collectively funded the estimated cost of construction of the hospital which is Rs 30 million. According to the Information Officer, 70 per cent of the construction work has been completed.
Dr. Kamal Gaire mentioned that with the construction of the hospital, necessary technology and medicines would also be included which would help the treatment of injured and sick wildlife across Nepal. Additionally, he said that addition of further technology and manpower along with construction of the hospital would significantly help to reduce the untimely demise of many wild animals.
Ram Kumar Aryal, Acting Chief at the National Trust for Nature Conservation has vowed to provide moving x-ray machine and quarantine facility to the newly constructed hospital. Earlier, Forest Minister Mahesh Acharya had laid the foundation stone for construction of the Wildlife Hospital in Chitwan on March 04, 2015. However, due to various reasons the construction of the hospital was delayed.
In Chitwan National Park alone, annually, more than 50 wild animals die naturally, half of them surrender to injuries due to lack of timely medical intervention. ln, the year 2017-18. 25 One-horned Rhinos’ deaths were recorded out of which 14 died of infections after getting injured.
Currently, the Jawalakhel-based zoo has been providing minor treatments to the injured wild animals.
Image Source: The Himalayan Times
