https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

After Humans Evicted, Rhinos Return To Their Home in Greater Kaziranga

Two rhinos have been sighted in camera traps in the Burachapori landscape This Protected Area was freed of human encroachers in February 2023 Ten tigers have also started living in this area filled with fresh mangroves
Indian Masterminds Stories

Till few months back, the Burachapori landscape in Assam was dotted with tiny tin houses where families lived. The menfolk went about their routine work while the women kept themselves busy with their children and household chores. Some of the men even tilled small patches of land and grew vegetables which fetched them a good price in the local markets. Everything looked fine on the surface, except that this land falls in the Protected Area of Kaziranga National Park.

So, in February 2023, when the forest department removed the encroachers – some by mutual consent, some by force – naturally, there was an uproar. But, now, the reclaim of the land by Kaziranga authorities for their animals seems to have been in good faith as large mammals have returned to their old homeland that had been taken over by humans.

Two rhinos and 10 tigers have been sighted in camera traps in this area. Assam Chief Minister tweeted his happiness at this development in the beginning of the new year. Speaking to Indian Masterminds, Kaziranga’s first woman Field Director Dr. Sonali Ghosh, an IFS officer of 2020 batch, gave more details about this good news.

Rhino Re-introduction Committee members touring the area where two rhinos have been seen

RHINO RETURNS

Since November 2023, rhinos are now being sighted in the 1st Addition of Burachapori WLS and Laokhowa WLS respectively. Two rhinos have likely entered the PA through the 2nd Addition of Orang National Park and through the recently restored (evicted areas) of Arimari. The eviction drive was carried out on 13, 14, and 15 Feb, 2023, which led to a clearing of 1282 Ha. of forest land and 817 Ha. of unsurveyed government land.

Laokhowa-Burachapori complex in Nagaon district had until 1983 a population of 45-50 rhinos. They were poached out and after that there was degradation of grassland habitat due to anthropogenic pressure. Stray rhinos from the north bank (Orang National Park) and eastern side (Kaziranga) were known to enter through the Brahmaputra chapori areas but never stayed for long.

“Laokhowa-Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and the 1st addition to Burachapori WLS – a total of 309.20 sq km – is a part of the Greater Kaziranga landscape. We have witnessed the return of 2 rhinos to this landscape after almost a gap of 40 years,” Dr. Sonali Ghosh explained.

A tiger caught in camera trap in the Burachapori area

TIGER TOO

Other than rhinos, the Protected Area (PA) also has a record of 10 tigers, indicating a good prey base of herbivores. It is also one of the few PAs in the country to have an excellent habitat of freshwater mangroves. Species like Hijal, a Barringtonia species, which is rare and are found in few PAs grow abundantly here.

That tigers have started living in the freshwater mangroves area is a good sign, giving hopes of their adaptation, as is the case with the Sunderbans tigers. It will now rest on the shoulders of the Kaziranga soldiers to ensure these tigers’ protection.

“The government has sent in new recruits and filled in vacancies. And, 75 frontline positions like Deputy Ranger, Forester and Forest Guard have been posted in the PA,” Dr. Ghosh informed.

A rhino caught on camera trap

FUTURE PLANS

She also added that the government is committed to strengthening the landscape and restoring the lost glory of this historic Protected Area and ensure habitat connectivity between the rhino range of Orang- Laokhowa-Burachapori-Kaziranga landscapes.

“Just yesterday, a team comprising of the Rhino Re-introduction Committee members went to the area where there has been proven evidence of the rhino, which was camera trap. And, now there is a plan to take up strategic interventions, especially for the protection and management of the landscape, so that the rhinos which had naturally come there, most likely from Orang, can stay and also have long term habitat in that landscape,” said Dr. Ghosh, summing up the future course of action.

It is heartening to see large mammals returning to their old homeland after a big gap. As Dr. Ghosh said, this has been possible because of the habitat restoration and the active support and collaboration of the Park authorities and, also, the local people. After restoration and the subsequent return, the onus will now lie on the forest department to ensure protection and preservation of the large mammals in their reclaimed habitat.


Indian Masterminds Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Related Stories
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
NEWS
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ONGC_resized
ONGC Launches 2025 Apprenticeship Program with 2,623 Vacancies — Empowering India’s Youth for Energy Sector Careers
PNB-resized
PNB Unlocks Rs 1,007 Crore by Selling 10% Stake in Canara HSBC Life Ahead of IPO — Strategic Move to Strengthen Core Operations
ONGC_resized
India’s State-Run Oil Giants Invest Rs 46,600 Crore in Five Months — ONGC and IOC Lead Push for Energy Infrastructure Growth
CIL & IIT Madras Tie Up
Coal India and IIT Madras Join Forces to Launch ‘Centre for Sustainable Energy’ — A Major Step Toward India’s Net-Zero Future
Rajasthan-Police
Rajasthan: 34 IPS Senior Officers Transferred in Major Reshuffle; New DG Post Created in SOG-ATS, Sachin Mittal Made New Police Commissioner of Jaipur
IRTS logo
Senior IRTS Officer Ranjan Prakash Thakur Prematurely Repatriated from ONGC to Parent Cadre for Promotion
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
UPSC Journey Should Be Enjoyable, Not Cumbersome
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
The Many Facets of Former IRS Officer and Author, Giselle Mehta | Video Interview
IDES Saquib Alam
Beyond IAS and IPS: The Inspiring Work of an IDES officer | Video Interview 
ADVERTISEMENT
UPSC Stories
IAS Rupal Rana UPSC
How Rupal Rana Cracked UPSC CSE 2023 with AIR 26 After Four Attempts
UPSC Topper Rupal Rana secured AIR 26 in 2023 after four attempts. Learn her preparation strategy, booklist,...
Ankita Parashar RAS 2023
4 Attempts, 1 Dream, 0 Excuses: Meet RAS Topper Ankita Parashar, Who Fulfilled a Daughter’s Promise & Secured Rank 2 | Exclusive Interview
Ankita Parashar, a teacher-turned-officer from Pushkar, fulfilled her late father’s dream by securing...
Kushal Chaudhary RAS
From Lab Assistant’s Grit to Rajasthan Topper: How Kushal Chaudhary Topped RAS 2023 with Self-Study | Preparation, Strategy & Interview
Kushal Chaudhary, a farmer’s son and lab assistant from Ajmer, topped RAS 2023 through self-study, overcoming...
Social Media
IFS Parveen Kaswan
Heartbreak by the River: 15-Day-Old Elephant Calf Rejected by Mother, Rescued by IFS Parveen Kaswan and His Team
Jaldapra, West Bengal: In a moving incident that tugs at the heart, a 15-day-old elephant calf was rescued...
Ashwini Bhide IAS and Anand Mahindra
Who Is IAS Ashwini Bhide, Hailed as a Role Model for Mumbai Metro Transformation by Anand Mahindra?
From heritage to high-tech: Bhide’s leadership in Metro Line 3 earns public praise and admiration
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...
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Latest
CM Nitish Kumar
Bihar’s Bold Leap: CM Nitish Kumar Pledges 1 Crore Jobs and Women’s Empowerment Boost
8th pay commission
Big Breaking! 8th Pay Commission May Merge DA With Basic Pay: A Historic Salary Reform Set to Reshape Government Pay Structure
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-19 at 12.23
WhatsApp Image 2025-10-16 at 15.16
IDES Saquib Alam
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT