story of one man's dedicated fight to assure the survival of this rare Indian rhino in helping to establish Nepal's famous Chitwan National Park. This personal story becomes very real to the reader in the book, "The Soul of the Rhino" by Dr. Hemanta Mishra. In the spring of 2010, animal keeper, Dave Johnson, was inspired by Mishra's story and the plight of the Greater One-Horned Rhino. Dave was also moved by how rare and critical its survival, with only an estimated population of only 2,850 individuals left in the world. World Wildlife Fund is striving for a rhino population of 3,000 animals by the year 2020. Nepal is only now coming out of a decade-long siege involving a Maoist uprising called The People's War, which toppled the government and resulted in 13,000 people killed or missing. During this time, military patrols were recruited into fighting the rebellion instead of patrolling the park and providing protection against poaching. As a result, 30% of the rhino

population was killed during this time. Although rangers are again visible throughout Nepal's National Parks, 14 rhinos were poached in 2009. Out of concern for the situation and interest in a species that will soon be part of our animal collection, Dave Johnson was able to initiate and maintain contact with Dr. Shubash Lohani, WWF Deputy Director/Eastern Himalaya Ecoregion program. Thus began a partnering effort with WWF to connect with the local Nepali communities, specifically in anti-poaching efforts working to protect the Greater One-Horned Rhinos in Chitwan National Park. . So volunteer Joanna Scott Picher, her husband, Lu, along with volunteer and Pachy Keeper Assistant, Chuck Zabel, all together jumped on board with Dave Johnson and traveled to Nepal! What better way to assess and learn about this endangered species and its connection with the culture and people of Nepal. The goal of the trip was to establish a sustainable