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23 Sep, 2016 05:22

Roaming rhino becomes Nepalese town’s most popular visitor (VIDEO)

Roaming rhino becomes Nepalese town’s most popular visitor (VIDEO)

A resident of Nepal has been receiving a lot of attention for his nightly walks – perhaps because he weighs about two tons and doesn't exactly look like the local townsfolk. Footage shows a rhinoceros casually strolling through a town’s main street.

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The friendly giant leaves his home in Chitwan National Park every evening, making his way to a nearby paddy field to graze, according to China Daily.

And although rhinos have the potential to be aggressive, this one gets along just fine with local residents. He even treats the dogs with respect, despite being the target of their nervous barks.

The rhino also has no interest in upsetting local authorities – he apparently obeys traffic laws during his 400-meter walk down the high street, making sure to walk on the left-hand side of the road.

One of his latest strolls actually marked World Rhino Day on Thursday.

But just because this particular rhino seems to choose peace over violence doesn't mean all of his kind have the same mantra.

In March 2015, a wild rhino ran through another Nepalese town, killing one person and injuring six others.

More often than not, however, it is humans who are responsible for rhino deaths, and those do not only include poachers. Just last month, four people were taken into custody for their alleged involvement in a rhino’s killing at Chitwan National Park. It is alleged that the endangered animal was electrocuted due to negligence of staff at a hotel inside the park. If found guilty, the accused could be sentenced to five to 15 years in jail, or a fine ranging from 50,000 to 100,000 Nepalese rupees (US$466 to $932), or both, The Himalayan Times reported.

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Around 645 rhinos are believed to be living in Chitwan National Park, a number that is slowly growing. Although rhinos once freely roamed across Eurasia and Africa, very few now survive outside of national parks and reserves. Two species in Asia – Javan and Sumatran rhinos – are considered critically endangered.

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