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Manas National Park has first rhino calf in three years
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| The Economic Times , Monday, September 04, 2017 |
| Correspondent
: NARESH MITRA |
| GUWAHATI: Assam's Manas National Park (MNP) has something to cheer about. Jamuna, the female rhino brought to Manas in 2010, gave birth to her second calf on Sunday, since her first in 2014. "It's a matter of jubilation for us because since 2014 there was no rhino birth in Manas until Jamuna did it again. The mother and calf are doing well, and we are keeping close watch on them," MNP field director, HK Sarma said. Jamuna was rescued by the forest department and volunteers of Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) from flooded Kaziranga National Park in 2004. Since then she was under care of CWRC near Kaziranga, run by Wildlife Trust of India (WTI)- International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW). Jamuna was rehabilitated to Manas on November 2010 and gave birth to her first calf in 2014. A World Heritage Site about 180 km from here, Manas at present has 29 rhinos including the new born calf. Majority of Manas' rhinos were trans-located from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Kaziranga National Park and CWRC under forest department's Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 project since 2008. Rhinos in MNP were reintroduced as part of Manas' conservation initiative after its 100-odd rhinos were decimated by poachers during the peak of insurgency between late 1980s and early 1990s, promoting the World Heritage Committee to put the protected area in World Heritage Site in Danger List in 1992. Successful reintroduction of rhinos was one of the criteria for which Manas got back the World Heritage Site tag in 2011. However, since 2011, Manas had lost at least 10 rhinos to poachers, prompting the Park authority to revitalize its anti-poaching drive and infrastructure. Sarma said that poaching was once of reasons why Manas had a rhino birth after a gap of almost three year
"While gestation period of rhinos is quite long, poaching also had its affect. Most of the matured bulls were killed by poachers. Now there are three male rhinos and with increased protection measures, we are hopeful of more births this year," Sarma said. Sarma also informed at least seven more rescued rhinos from CWRC are expected to be rehabilitated in Manas from CWRC this year.
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| SOURCE
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http://economictimes.indiatimes.com/news/environment/flora-fauna/manas-national-park-has-first-rhino-calf-in-three-years/printarticle/60350693.cms |
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