Chitwan National Park has expressed concern over the increased involvement of local villagers in poaching rhinoceros and smuggling their hides and parts for immediate gains.

The park officials said that since the local residents themselves are involved in poaching wild animals instead of conserving them, it has posed a more serious challenge in checking poaching of rhino.

“This year, among the two dozen persons who were arrested on charges of poaching rhinos 22 poachers were from Chitwan district alone. We have arrested them with full evidence to show their involvement in the killing of wild animals for smuggling purposes,” Kantipur FM quoted acting conservation officer Kamal Jung Kunwar as saying. He further said, “This is indeed disheartening and shows the new challenge posed to the people involved in rhino conservation.”

The FM reported that after Amar Bahadur Tamang, chairman of Kalabanjar Forest Users’ Group of Chitwan National Park was found involved in poaching rare animals, it became clear that there was involvement of local people in this racket.

Chitwan National Park, which is one of the major wildlife sanctuaries in Nepal, has started searching for Tamang who is said to be absconding since.

A case was filed against him in the district court accusing him of being involved in smuggling of animal parts a week ago.

“We are surprised to see the chairman of forest users’ group involved in animal poaching and smuggling of their parts,” said Chitwan National Park’s assistant warden Annanta Nath Baral.

Only last month, three men from Chitwan were sentenced to jail after being convicted in smuggling of rhino parts.