Rhino population overcomes poachers to register increase

The Economic Times , Saturday, May 16, 2009
Correspondent : ANI
POBITORA SANCTUARY (Assam): The Indian Rhino population, threatened in the past because of rampant poaching, is slowly on the upswing according to a recent census carried out in the three main sanctuaries of Kaziranga, Pobitora and Orang in Assam.

Scientifically known as Rhinoceros unicornis, the animals are found only in their natural habitat in northeastern India and Nepal.

According to global conservationgroup WWF, there are less than 3,000 rhinos left in the world.

Bihaab Talukdar, a leading wildlife activist, working for saving the rhinos, said, "As per the 2009 census, there are 2048 in Kaziranga, in Orang it was 64, and in Pobitora it was 84."

This compares favorably with the figures from the 2006 census when there were 1885 rhinos in Kaziranga and 81 in Pobitora.

The rhino may not be as glamorous as the tigers, but they are equally sought after in the international markets.

Their horns -- made of hair-like keratin fibres -- fetch up to $10,000 per kilogram in the international market. They are in great demand in China and southeast Asian countries for traditional medicines. The Chinese believe the horns have aphrodisiac qualities.

After Kaziranga wildlife sanctuary in Assam, Pobitora has the maximum concentration of rhinos and the best way to keep them secure is by translocating them to other areas.

Pobitora has the highest density of one horned rhino population though it is just 38.8 square kilometres and is surrounded by around 80 villages.

The increase in the rhino population is a result of the vigilance of the sanctuary officials and efforts of voluntary organisation and the residents.

Poaching had become a threat to the rhino population. The sanctuary authorities have managed to keep away poachers for last three years. Wild life expert believe that this will encourage the conservation of the rhinoceros in other parks as well.

Wild life officials of Pobitora say that the nothing would have been possible without the help of the local people and the guards.

"Even though there has been poaching of rhinos in some areas but out here there has been none in the last three years. Locals have been cooperative with us and along with our forest guards. They have ensured that no poaching takes place here," said M.Tamuli, a ranger at the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary.

Forest guards often patrol on bare feet, armed with obsolete rifles, while poachers are equipped with modern firearms like automatic rifles.

The guards in Pobitora have to be on vigil throughout the night, as the rhinos tend to stray. Though the sanctuary officials have erected fencing to stop the rhino's from straying and to keep the poachers away.

The excess population in the Pobitora sanctuary is being used for translocation so as to increase the rhino population in other sanctuaries.

Two rhinos had been shifted from Pobitora to Manas sanctuary in Assam for the same purpose and there are plans to shift more rhinos.

 
SOURCE : Saturday, 16 May 2009
 


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