https://indianmasterminds.com

ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT

Assam’s Zero Tolerance Policy Led to Zero Rhino Poaching in 2022

Assam recorded no rhino deaths due to poaching in 2022. Few years back, one rhino was getting poached every fortnight. Current government’s zero tolerance policy was the defining factor.
Indian Masterminds Stories

2022 ended on a sweet note for Assam as the year did not witness a single rhino being poached. From two cases in 2021, it came down to zero, creating a record of lowest poaching in 22 years. 

No mean task by any chance, considering there was a time, one rhino was getting poached every fortnight. Both 2013 and 2014 had 27 rhino poaching cases each.

So, how did this turn of events come about? It all boils down to the zero tolerance policy adopted by Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma, and implemented effectively by the state police and forest department.

THE COUNTDOWN BEGAN

Soon after taking charge as the Chief Minister of the state, Mr. Himanta Biswa Sarma had directed the police and forest department to jointly prepare a plan to ensure that poachers cannot enter the Kaziranga Park at any cost. 

In line with this plan, a new task force was notified in June 2021 to check rhino poaching in Kaziranga. It was named the Assam Rhino Protection Task Force and it had senior forest and police officers on board. And, the officer picked by Mr. Himanta Biswa Sharma to lead it was 1991-batch IPS officer of Assam-Meghalaya cadre, G.P. Singh, a man known to be a trusted lieutenant of the CM. And, living up to his reputation of a troubleshooter, the IPS officer, who is currently Special DGP Assam, deployed commando forces in Kaziranga to combat poachers. 2022 alone saw 58 rhino poachers arrested, 5 injured and 4 deaths.

Speaking with Indian Masterminds, Mr. G.P. Singh outlined the key steps that were taken by his department to end poaching. These include: 1. Mapping the incidents of poaching in time and space; 2. Collection of data about all past poachers and their present activities; 3. Sensitising the stake holders, especially villagers, forest dwellers, and those in buffer zones; 4. Mapping of all boatmen; 5. Coordination with police of other states, especially Arunachal, Nagaland, Manipur and Kerala; 6. CCTV on entry/exit routes including night vision CCTV; 7. Movement sensors; 8. Analysis of cyber and mobile data; 9. Coordinated approach between police and forest department; 10. Extensive usage of drones and dog squads; 11. Armed commandos of police and forest deployed in core areas.

Special DGP Assam and Chairman of Assam Rhino Protection Task Force, G.P. Singh, IPS

He also mentioned the constant support and guidance of Assam CM and Union Home Minister as important motivating factors.

Prime Minister Modi was one of the first persons to praise the people of Assam, after news about the zero poaching broke.

Commenting on it, Mr. G.P. Singh said, “It’s a matter of great pride and privilege that our effort has been recognised at the highest level in the country. This also drives us to work harder. We need to keep the pressure on the poaching gangs. We have to ensure that the graph of poaching stays flat at nil for a few years, by when, it would become a norm. We need to now work on the receivers of rhino horns based in other states and across the border with the help of other state police forces and central agencies.”

KAZIRANGA: PROACTIVENESS THE KEY

Following the CM’s zero tolerance policy in letter and spirit, Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, Jatindra Sarma, IFS,  has ensured no mercy was shown to people involved in any way in poaching activities.

Field Director of Kaziranga National Park, Jatindra Sarma, IFS (Left)

“With increased intelligence gathering; monitoring of ex-poachers; conducting frequent raids and picking up suspected and suspicious characters for questioning; intensive river patrolling, especially in the north bank as it is most vulnerable; improved logistical support with E-Eye cameras installed at strategic places to record who’s coming in and going out of the Park; we were able to ensure no poaching of rhino took place,” he told Indian Masterminds.

MANAS: TAKING LOCALS ON BOARD

There has been no rhino poaching in the Manas National Park since 2016. Unlike Kaziranga, where the intensity of armed boots on the ground is far higher, Manas was fortunate to have been complimented through active engagement of fringe communities, with whom park authorities are continuously interacting.

Field Director of Manas, Vaibhav Mathur, IFS, said, “Conservation partners have played a significant role in bridging the gap between forest personnel and locals. Manas was financially assisted in these endeavours through the Man and Biosphere Programme provided by the MoEFCC, GoI. There are 48 Eco Development Committees (EDCs) along the nearly 100 kms southern boundary amounting to an EDC at every 2 kms., which acts as a social buffer.”

Field Director of Manas National Park, Vaibhav Mathur, IFS

Over a period, anti-poaching infrastructure has been built up under Project Tiger, CAMPA and the Assam Project on Forestry and Biodiversity Conservation. “As we speak, 6 new anti-poaching camps under the latter are being constructed in critical locations. Without Project Tiger, it would not have been possible to manage day to day management interventions,” Mr. Mathur informed Indian Masterminds.

Having a hard southern boundary, with no connecting corridors or forested landscape, the rhino bearing area of Manas has been fenced here with anti-poaching camps dotting the border. These have prevented negative interactions between humans and wildlife, which has generated a lot of goodwill and ensured reciprocal commitments from the local people.


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
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
Dr. S.K
Technology Meets Ecology: IFS Dr S K Srivastava’s Game-Changing Innovations in Forest Management | Eco Warrior Awards 2025 Interview
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
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
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT
Videos
IFS Ravikant Meena UPSC IFS
Siddhartha Saxena UPSC CAPF
Dr. S.K
ADVERTISEMENT
ADVERTISEMENT