GUWAHATI, May 23 – The rhino census-2006 has established the presence of 2,006 rhinos in the State, mainly spread over three protected areas (PAs) – the Kaziranga National Park (1,855), the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (81) and the Orang National Park (68). The other two major rhino habitats, the Manas National Park and the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, which used to shelter a major rhino population of close to a hundred in each, have seen their rhino population almost wiped out long back. The latest census found only one rhino in each of the two PAs, the one in Manas being a relocated specimen brought to the Park a few months back.
It has been a success story in Kaziranga and Pobitora, with Kaziranga adding another 303 rhinos since the previous census in 1999 that recorded 1,552 numbers. Pobitora, too, enhanced its count to 81 from the earlier figure of 74. A small sanctuary with an area of just 38 sq km, Pobitora has been burdened with this big population, and unless the excess numbers are translocated to other PAs, the dangers of overpopulation – signs of which are palpable there — will affect it badly, conservationists feel.
Orang, too, has witnessed an increase in its rhino population, which, at 68, is 22 more from the previous census figure of 46. However, it should be noted that Orang had as many as 97 rhinos as per the 1991 census, and the present situation is a far cry from that abundance.
The break-up of the present population in Kaziranga reveals 545 males, 693 females and 409 young ones. The sex of another 208 could not be determined and have been listed in the category of ‘undetermined sex.’ The 1999 census had recorded the presence of 556 males, 586 females and 257 young ones besides 153 of undetermined sex.
“The latest rhino census has shown an increase of rhinos in Kaziranga, Pobitora and Orang. In fact, the population in Pobitora has exceeded its carrying capacity, and the Forest Department’s rhino translocation plan emphasizes translocation from Pobitora as a top priority,” Mohan Chandra Malakar, Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) told The Assam Tribune.
Malakar said that the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 aimed at attaining a rhino population of 3,000 spread across seven PAs of the State in the next 14 years. “The target areas of translocation are the Dibru-Saikhowa National Park, the Laokhowa-Burhachapori-Kochmara complex, and the Orang National Park besides Manas,” he said.
While the rhino population of the State can be termed as healthy, several areas of concern remain. Over 90 per cent of the rhino population is restricted to the Kaziranga National Park, and this makes the rhinos exposed to stochastic risks. And with Pobitora already overpopulated, Kaziranga and Pobitora have been chosen as the source population for the translocation purpose. Another distress is that security and infrastructure continue to be a big problem in Manas, Laokhowa and Orang — all major rhino habitats.
The translocation programme, the preliminary works of which have already started, is to be carried out in several phases. The actual translocation will start in February/March 2007.
“The security aspect of the targeted translocation areas needs to be adequately strengthened before translocation can begin,” Malakar said. Poaching has been a constant concern in Manas, Laokhowa and Orang, taking a heavy toll of the rhinos over the years.
The translocation programme emphasizes on restoring the previous rhino populations of Manas and Orang, both of which accommodated around hundred individuals each. Obtaining a 50-plus population for Laokhowa is another objective.
