Aasu conclave on rhino safety

The Times of India , Saturday, December 14, 2013
Correspondent : TNN
GUWAHATI: The spate of rhino killings in the state has triggered protests and heated debate among civil societies and political parties on the gaps present in measures taken to protect these one-horned pachyderms.

Taking the debate forward, the All Assam Students Union (Aasu) on Friday brought wildlife conservationists, writers, retired forest officials and activists together on finding a way to save the state animal of Assam from extinction.

"The one-horned rhino is the pride of Assam. So, whenever there is a rhino killing, we strongly protest against the failure of the government to protect them. But at the same time, we also want to find out a way of protecting this valuable species. That is why we have all gathered here to deliberate on what are the loopholes in the protection mechanism and how this can be plugged," said Aasu adviser Samujjal Bhattacharya.

At least 34 rhinos have been killed in the state this year, with Kaziranga National Park accounting for 25 deaths. Unofficially though, the casualty figure has touched 50 in the state.

Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) executive director Vivek Menon said unless the intelligence gathering mechanism is developed it will be difficult to safeguard the rhinos no matter how much the anti-poaching measures are strengthened.

"Forest guards alone cannot save the rhinos. Intelligence gathering has to be in place round-the-clock," said Menon. He said that even Aasu's district level units can play a role in mobilizing people living close to the protected areas for providing information about movement of poachers.

"Aasu also has links with student unions in other NE states and these bodies can also be involved in the exercise," he added. Writer Arup Kumar Dutta, who has authored books on Kaziranga and one-horned rhinos, said along with international campaign to save the rhinos, translocation of the animals to another habitat has become a necessity for their long-term conservation.

 
SOURCE : http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/city/guwahati/Aasu-conclave-on-rhino-safety/articleshow/27345488.cms
 


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