Despite a lot of poaching activities taking place in the Kaziranga National Park, Rhino population in this world heritage site saw an increasing trend, according to the recent census which ended on 26 March 2013.
Earlier, there were 2290 one-horned Great Indian Rhinoceros, which increased to 2329 in the latest census, which means that there is an increase in the Rhino population of Kaziranga National Park by 39. The census began in the Kaziranga National Park on 24 March 2013. The authorities of the KNP declared that they counted 645 adult males and 684 adult females apart from sub-adults and the cubs.
Kaziranga National Park remained closed to the tourists during the census operation which was performed by more than 250 people with 50 elephants. The census included all 81 blocks of the Kaziranga National Park which has five main ranges- Agratoli, Bagori, Burapahar, Kohora and Uttarpara.
The census operation is performed in Kaziranga National Park every two years. The 2013 census included forest guards battalions, officials from state forest department as well as the NGOs and certain media groups.
Rhino headcount in Kaziranga National Park has now become a regular practice. It is performed in order to implement the conversation methods fruitfully. In 2012, Kaziranga National Park witnessed a loss of 20 rhinos in poaching. So far, in 2013 14 rhino deaths have been observed.
In 2011, the rhino population in Kaziranga National Park was 2290. In the year 1999, this was 1672. In 2009, this increased to 2048.
What is Poaching?
Poaching basically means unlawful activities for taking wild animals or plants through trapping, fishing, harvesting and hunting. The concerned law may be that of wildlife management of international conversation. When poachers violate the hunting laws, they are usually punishable by law. These violations of the hunting laws are called poaching. Poaching causes adverse affect on the wildlife population.
Kaziranga National Park: Abode of two-thirds of the world's Great One-horned Rhinoceroses
Kaziranga National Park is situated in Golaghat and Nagaon districts of Assam, India. It is the World Heritage Site and houses two-thirds of Great One-horned Rhinoceroses of the world. In terms of wildlife conservation, Kaziranga National Park has achieved great success in comparison to other wildlife protected areas of India. Being situated at edge of the Eastern Himalaya biodiversity hub, this Park is a home to varied species.
