🦏 Why Nepal's National Animal Should Be the One-Horned Rhino — Former IGP Khapung Explains

🗓️ July 16, 2026 🇳🇵 Nepal Opinion ⏱️ 5 min read

"When I hear the proposal to make the one-horned rhino the national animal, I find it very appropriate." — Former IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung

The debate over Nepal's national animal has resurfaced with renewed vigor. While the cow was officially declared the national animal in the 2015 Constitution[reference:17], many argue that the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) — a species deeply intertwined with Nepal's identity, conservation success, and cultural heritage — is a far more fitting symbol[reference:18].

Former Inspector General of Police Chandra Kuber Khapung has now added his voice to this growing chorus, sharing a deeply personal and compelling argument for why the rhino deserves the crown.

🌍 A Personal Journey: From Haiti to New York

Khapung's perspective is shaped by two distinct experiences from his international travels — each revealing a different facet of how Nepal is perceived abroad.

🇭🇹 Haiti — 2007/08

The Cultural Disconnect: During a UN mission, Khapung told locals that the cow is Nepal's national animal. Their response: "Oh, how wonderful! It's the most delicious thing to me!" He felt deeply uncomfortable — realizing a religious symbol may not translate globally.

🗽 Manhattan, New York

The Rhino Tag: Khapung spotted a tag with a one-horned rhino's head in a store corner. He picked it up — and found "Made in Nepal" on it. That moment, he thought: "The rhino should be our national animal — so that wherever its picture is seen, people think of Nepal."

"I thought then that Nepal's national animal should be the one-horned rhinoceros — so that whenever someone sees its picture anywhere, they would think of Nepal. Most countries in the world have cows, but I don't think seeing those cows makes anyone think of Nepal. Yes, we worship cows and we will continue to respect them. But when I hear the proposal to make the one-horned rhino the national animal, I find it very appropriate."

— Former IGP Chandra Kuber Khapung

🦏 The Case for the Rhino: More Than Just an Animal

The one-horned rhinoceros is not merely a wildlife species — it is a living symbol of Nepal's resilience and conservation success.

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Conservation Success

Nepal hosts nearly a quarter of the world's one-horned rhinos, a remarkable recovery from near-extinction[reference:19].

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National Pride

The rhino evokes strong national pride and is featured on Nepal's 100-rupee currency note[reference:20].

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Cultural Reverence

The Tharu community reveres the rhino as spiritually significant[reference:21].

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Neutral Symbol

Unlike the cow, the rhino is a shared symbol for Nepal's diverse population[reference:22].

⚖️ The Ongoing National Debate

The proposal to replace the cow with the rhino is not new. In 2015, lawmakers from indigenous communities lobbied for the rhino during the constitution drafting process[reference:23]. The Nepal Federation of Indigenous Nationalities argued that the rhino would better reflect the country's secularism and conservation achievements[reference:24].

Recently, the Indigenous Nationalities Commission has again proposed a 25-point constitutional amendment — including designating the rhino as the national animal[reference:25][reference:26]. The commission argues that the cow may not be a shared symbol for all religious and cultural communities, including Muslims, Kirats, Rais, and other groups[reference:27].

💡 What Khapung's Argument Reveals

Khapung's narrative cuts to the heart of the matter: national symbols should be recognizable and evocative beyond religious boundaries.

His words echo a sentiment shared by many conservationists and cultural advocates. As Kunda Dixit, senior editor of Nepali Times, once said: "The rhino deserves to be the national animal. The Indians already have the tiger, so I think our main claim to fame is the conservation of rhinos."[reference:28]

📌 The Road Ahead

The cow remains Nepal's national animal for now[reference:29]. But the debate is far from settled. With the Indigenous Nationalities Commission pushing for constitutional change[reference:30], and voices like Khapung's adding moral weight to the argument, the rhino's moment may yet come.

💡 For a nation that has successfully brought an endangered species back from the brink, the one-horned rhinoceros is not just an animal — it is a symbol of hope, resilience, and a shared national identity that transcends religious and cultural divides.

🗳️ Should the one-horned rhinoceros replace the cow as Nepal's national animal?

🦏 Yes — the rhino represents Nepal's pride and conservation success!

🐄 No — the cow is sacred and should remain the national animal.

🤷 I'm not sure — both have valid arguments.

#Nepal #OneHornedRhino #NationalAnimal #ChandraKuberKhapung #Conservation #NepalConstitution #Wildlife

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Nepalaya Opinion Desk

🇳🇵 Politics, Culture & Identity | Analysis & Commentary