AS if the rhino poaching was not bad enough, now the monsoon fury has contributed to bringing Kaziranga National Park into the media glare worldwide. This famous habitat for the endangered one-horned rhinoceros witnessed the poaching of 10 of these rare animals in the first seven months of this year. Spread over an area of 430 square kilometres, the park is identified as a safe haven for rhinos and is said to house 1,800 of the world’s population of 2,700 one-horned (Rhinoceros unicornis) species.
Located on the Brahmaputra’s southern bank, the park has been causing concern to wildlife activists. It loses about 10 to 15 rhinos annually — both from natural deaths and poaching. These animals have an average lifespan of 40 years, and over the past 10 years the KNP has lost 705 rhinos, 67 of these killed by poachers.
Ironically, the extent of poaching has actually fallen over the past few years. Statistics reveal that poachers killed only three rhinos in 2003, four in 2004 and seven each in 2005 and 2006.
KNP director Suren Buragohain claimed that poachers with international links were involved in the recent killing of rhinos. “They are equipped with sophisticated weapons. But our forest guards lack the proper arms to counter the poachers.” He also informed that the park was yet to get the required number of guards. Despite this, he said, all possible steps had been taken to check the poaching.
Rhino horn has a great demand in the international market. It is considered an aphrodisiac, given this heavyweight animal’s mating time of about 45 minutes. Many believe that one can achieve this sexual prowess by wearing a part of rhino horn. It is also believed to have medicinal values. China, Taiwan, Thailand and South Korea are known markets for the illegal trade in rhino horn, which costs as much as a few thousand US dollars a kilogram in the international market.
The KNP was declared a reserve forest in 1908 and became a Game Sanctuary eight years later. In 1950 it received the status of a Wildlife Sanctuary and finally in 1974 it was declared a National Park. In 1985, the Unesco declared it a World Heritage Site. Besides rhinos, the park is also home to Royal Bengal tigers, Asiatic elephants and Asiatic buffaloes. According to a recent animal count, there are more than 1,500 Asiatic water buffaloes and 1,000 elephants in the KNP.
More recently, an overflowing Brahmaputra has flooded a large part of the park and the authorities fear that many animals may have been swept away. At least 15 hog deer were reportedly washed away last week and the park’s denizens are now said to be sheltering in the south where Karbi Anglong starts. National Highway 37 runs between the KNP and the hills of Karbi Anglong and while crossing this highway many animals have been killed by speeding vehicles.
Indeed, all of Assam is reeling under floods. The first wave has already submerged nearly 50 villages and displaced around 100,000 people in the Brahmaputra valley and more than 25 people have died so far. Even Assam’s relief and rehabilitation minister Bhumidhar Barman admits that the overall situation has turned critical with a couple of major embankment breaches as a result of swelling rivers. The Brahmaputra and the Barak, with all their tributaries, are now flowing above the danger level.
Meanwhile, a group of performing and visual artists initiated an awareness programmme in the locality on 1 August. They included singer Zubeen Garg, artist Noni Borpuzari and film director Pulak Gogoi along with Champak Barbara, Krishnamani Chutia, Khagen Gogoi, Biman Baruah and Diganta Bharati. They took out a rally from Bokakhat to Burhapahar near Kaziranga. Organised by a local NGO, Bhumi, in association with the Wildlife Trust of India, Aranyak, People for Animals and the Assam forest department, the rally was aimed at creating awareness of wildlife conservation and preventing poaching in Kaziranga.
