Counting of cows begins in Chitwan National Park

CHITWAN: THURSDAY, MAY 13, 2021 – According to the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 2029, the counting of endangered wild cows (Gauri Gai) listed in the list of protected wildlife has been started in Chitwan National Park. The park started counting on Tuesday after five years.

Lokendra Adhikari, information officer and assistant conservation officer of the park, said that the internal monitoring and counting has been started to get information about the latest condition of the cow. The park has mobilized 22 elephants and 60 manpower for the census. The goal is to complete the count within five days at most.

The grasslands connected to the Sal forest in the Chure, Bhawar and riverine areas of the park are being divided into 14 blocks and calculated by direct observation method. As per the 2016 census, there are 473 cows in Parsa and Chitwan National Parks and 368 cows in Chitwan. It was found in abundance in Udayapur and Koshi Tappu areas in the 1950s but has not been seen in recent days. There were 312 in the 2011 census.

It has 3 subspecies in 11 countries of South Asia and Southeast Asia, including Nepal and India. The average lifespan is 20 to 30 years, especially in dry areas. This wild animal, which prefers to live in large herds, is sometimes preyed upon by tigers. Males weigh 600 to 1,000 kilograms. Usually there are 8 to 11 cows in a herd. – RSS