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Rhino kills one and injures several more in rampage through small Nepal town

The town borders a forest that contains rhinos, elephants, leopards and monkeys

Jack Simpson
Monday 30 March 2015 14:12 BST
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The runaway rhino killed an elderly woman after goring her (AFP/Getty)
The runaway rhino killed an elderly woman after goring her (AFP/Getty) ((AFP/Getty))

A rhino has caused chaos in southern Nepal after it rampaged through a small town, killing one woman and injuring several more.

The huge animal was captured in a number of amateur videos running through the streets of Hetuada, Makwanpur District on Monday morning, after leaving the nearby Chitwan National Park, a world heritage site known for its population of one-horned rhinoceroses.

Residents in the area had made efforts to push the rhino out of the town by beeping horns and beating drums but these led to the animal becoming more confused, said a government official.

Teams with tranquilizers had been called to help capture the rhino but it was unclear whether their efforts had been successful.

Ram Prasad Thapaliya, chief district officer of Makwanpur district said: “We have unconfirmed news that one person has been killed and three others have been injured,”

“We are using elephants and other technical methods to lure the rhino back to its habitat.”

“The whole town is terrorized by this animal. It even entered the local hospital, forcing terrified people to jump over the fences.”

Hetauda, a city of about 135,000 people, borders a forested area with a varied wildlife that includes monkeys, leopards and elephants.

These animals sometimes find their way into the town and local reports say that elephants have been spotted near the outskirts of the town at night.

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