https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Assam Scripting Success Stories of Rhino Conservation and Reintroduction

Indian Masterminds’ special feature on World Rhino Day 2022 We take a look at the success stories of rhino conservation and reintroduction in Assam And throw a quick glance at the messages from forest officers who are closely tied to wildlife conservation
Indian Masterminds Stories

Today is World Rhino Day, and the Union Minister for Environment, Forest and Climate Change, Mr. Bhupender Yadav, started the day with a message that conveys the Indian government’s commitment to conserving this megafaunal species: “India has a long history of conserving one-horn rhinoceros. It’s a matter of pride that poaching of rhinos in Kaziranga has gone down to the lowest in the last two decades. Kudos to all involve in the effort.”

Indeed, it’s a matter of pride that sustained conservation efforts and zero tolerance to poaching have brought down poaching in Kaziranga to an all-time low, from 30-35 cases a year till a few years back to only 1 case last year.  Simultaneously, Manas Tiger Reserve in lower Assam has scripted a success story of its own in reintroducing rhinos in its area, from zero few years back to 51 rhinos now.

On this special day dedicated to rhinos, we take a look at the success stories of rhino conservation and reintroduction in Assam, and also throw a quick glance at the special messages from forest officers who are closely tied to wildlife conservation in the country.

RHINO CONSERVATION IN KAZIRANGA

The conservation efforts for the Greater One Horned Rhino in Kaziranga started in 1902 and was necessitated by severe decline of the rhino population, mainly due to rampant poaching. That the sustained efforts have brought success can be borne out by the fact that in Kaziranga Tiger Rserve (KTR) now, the rhino population has increased more than 100 fold. At last count, it stands at 2613.

World Rhino Day 2022 observation at Kaziranga

Field Director of Kaziranga, Mr. Jatindra Sarma, IFS, told Indian Masterminds: “From the beginning, our focus has been on anti-poaching activities. Joint patrolling mechanism with police, involving fringe villagers, strengthening civil administration have been successful in curbing rhino poaching. Now emphasis is being laid on making available more space, recovering habitat in new areas, habitat management in existing areas, wet land management, grassland management, and monsoon management. During the monsoons, flooding of riverine areas is an annual phenomenon, so managing animals crossing the NH to higher ground outside the KTR is a challenging task.”

The day was observed by Kaziranga management with multiple activities like bicycle rally, street drama, extempore speech, and lot more.

REINTRODUCTION OF RHINOS IN MANAS

Rhinos had disappeared from Manas Tiger Reserve in Assam as a result of civil unrest in the region in 1980s and early 1990s that had led to widespread poaching, deforestation and fragmentation. After the situation in the region stabilized, the Assam Forest Department took up restoration of the greater one-horned rhino in Manas as a priority.

The return of the one-horned rhinos to Manas is a powerful example of how sustained efforts and consistent focus can restore wildlife. The rhino population rebuilding was done through a combination of community engagement, animal rehabilitation and habitat conservation.

School children taking part in a World Rhino Day 2022 programme in Assam

Re-establishing rhinos was challenging because they are very territorial, and adults moved from one habitat to another often fail to thrive. So, a new approach was also explored. Orphaned rhino calves from Kaziranga National Park were rehabilitated and then released into Manas when they were 2 or 3 years old, an age at which they are more able to establish their own territory. Orphaned rhino calves are rehabilitated in the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near KTR and raised until they can be moved to a soft-release facility in Manas before being set free into the wild.

Field Director of Manas, Mr. Vaibhav Mathur, IFS, told Indian Masterminds: “Day-to-day monitoring of released rhinos was subsequently taken up after the capacity of forest frontline was built up. As an ongoing process, the department is seeing to it that the habitat for rhinos does not deteriorate over time and habitat management interventions are being taken up annually. This has taken the rhino number to 51 till now.”

He also said that, to tackle poaching and human-animal conflict, community-based conservation activities and alternate livelihoods were introduced. Local communities were imparted training to boost anti-poaching efforts and equip rangers. And the children were educated through dedicated campaigns to take pride in their natural heritage.

FIVE RHINO SPECIES FOREVER

This is the theme of this year’s World Rhino Day. There are a total of five species of rhino – white, black, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan. The goal of this day is to promote awareness about the need to save rhinos from danger to their lives. Rhino day is celebrated both offline and online. Governments and organisations unite on this day to work towards the goal of taking care of all the five species of rhinos in Asia and Africa.

Calling the Indian rhino vulnerable, IFS officer Parveen Kaswan tweeted:

Drawing attention to Dudhwa’s success story of reintroduction of one horn rhinos, senior IFS officer Ramesh Pandey tweeted:

While lauding the zero tolerance policy of Assam government towards poaching, IFS officer Sivakumar Periyasamy, currently posted as CCF, Southern Assam Circle, told Indian Masterminds that for sustainable conservation of rhinos, however, “we have to move from protected area specific approach to landscape approach by connecting habitats through corridors.”


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
Devendra Kumar Tiwari Alka Tiwari  IAS Jharkhand
First IAS Couple in India to Hold Both Chief Secretary & State Election Commissioner Posts Consecutively - Know This Powerful Pair
Policing, Trust, and Investment: Insights from IPF - Indian Masterminds
Indian Police Foundation Marks 10 Years, Discussion on How Policing Builds Investor Confidence
Madhya Pradesh football training
Mini Brazil to Germany: Vicharpur’s Young Footballers Get CM Mohan Yadav’s Blessings on Vijayadashami Week
bureaucracy news
Centre Announces Key Bureaucratic Appointments & Deputation Extensions: Neeraj Surendran, Arun G, Anand Mohan Among Key Names
PM Modi CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar Receives Rs. 10,219 Crore from Centre: A Festive Gift On Vijayadashami to Fuel Development & Welfare, Backed by GST Reforms
Chhattisgarh government
Chhattisgarh CM Charts Development Roadmap: Push for Capital Expenditure, Biometric Attendance, & Transparent Governance
Vishnu Deo Sai CM
Chhattisgarh Gets Rs. 3,462 Crore Boost from Modi Government: Here's How CM Sai Pledges To Spend It!
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Ravikant Meena on IFS Preparation, Optionals, and Life in Forest Service
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
How Siddhartha Saxena Cracked UPSC CAPF AIR 326 Against All Odds
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Live Interaction
From Cut-off Dates to Coaching & Reforms: UPSC Chairman Ajay Kumar Assures Aspirants of Fairness, Transparency & a Future-Ready UPSC | UPSC@100
A Century of Service: The UPSC’s Landmark Year Begins. Chairman Ajay Kumar on UPSC’s Centennial: “Merit,...
Giriraj Parihar MPPSC 2024
From Constable to Deputy Collector: Giriraj Parihar’s 9-Year MPPSC Journey | Farmer’s Son, Brother to Five Sisters
From a jail guard to MPPSC 2024 Rank 8, Giriraj Parihar’s nine-year journey of self-study, hard work,...
Ankit MPPSC 2024 Rank 3
From Village Dreams to Deputy Collector’s Chair: Meet Ankit, MPPSC Rank 3 Hindi Medium Topper
Ankit, a Hindi-medium aspirant from Balaghat, secured Rank 3 in MPPSC 2024 and became Deputy Collector...
Social Media
World Rhino Day India
On World Rhino Day, IFS Officer Parveen Kaswan Shares Rare Insights - India Now Hosts 80% of the World’s One-Horned Rhinos
September 22 Marks Global Call for Rhino Conservation; India Holds 80% of World’s Greater One-Horned...
Parag Madhukar Dhakate
Relentless Rains Wreak Havoc in Dehradun: IFS officer PM Dhakate Warns Citizens Amid Flash Floods
Cloudbursts in Dehradun triggered flash floods. IFS officer Dr. PM Dhakate warned citizens to stay indoors...
Forest Guard Tiger Encounter
Tigers Clash in the Wild as Forest Guards Capture Rare Footage , Retired IFS Mohan Pargaien Posts Viral Video
Retired IFS officer Mohan Pargaien shares viral video of three tigers brawling in Ramnagar, as forest...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
Dr G K Goswami IPS
Everything you ever wanted to know about e-murder, e-dacoity and data safety
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
India’s Missile Strikes on 11 Pakistani Airbases Forced Islamabad Into Panic: Ex-UK Envoy Reveals Secret Saudi Defense Pact
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
Dr G K Goswami IPS
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT