In the past eight months, twenty rhinos have been found dead in Chitwan National Park. Park officials stated that numerous deaths occurred due to natural reasons like combat, disease, old age, and attacks from tigers and crocodiles. Last year, twenty-one rhinos died, which included two due to hunting, one for unknown reasons, and eighteen from natural causes.
Twenty rhinos died naturally, one died by drowning, and one was killed in 2022–2023. The government had formed a team to study why so many rhinos were dying naturally. In recent years, these deaths have decreased. According to the 2021 census, Nepal has 752 rhinos, with 694 living in Chitwan National Park. The rhino census, done every five years, was stopped this year due to a lack of funds. It was affected after USAID stopped funding, along with other park projects.