Indian rhinos on the move to a better future

Assam to have CBI probe against rhino poaching
Guwahati, Sat, 3 May 2008 NI Wire


Finally with intense public pressure and demands from various quarters including appeal from several NGOs and the All Assam Students Union (AASU), the state administration has finally asked the Central Bureau of Investigation CBI to probe into the rhino poaching.



The influential organisations like All Assam Students Union, Nature's Beckon, Friends of Assam and Seven Sisters, Journalists Forum, Assam with many others had been raising voices for a CBI probe into the slaughtering of endangered rhinos in various national parks of Assam for quite a long time.

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In the wake of continuous poaching of rhinos in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and the Rajiv Gandhi wildlife sanctuary in Orang, the government has decided to carry out a CBI probe on the illegal killings of at least 27 rhinos since January 2007.



Reportedly the government had earlier transferred the Kaziranga Divisional Forest Officer and formed a committee to find out the reasons behind the spurt in rhino poaching in three of the rhino habitat regions: Kaziranga, Orang and Pabitora game sanctuary. The committee is due to submit a report for effective measures to combat poaching.



The continued poaching of most endangered one-horned rhino has been a major public concern drawing a nexus between illegal poachers and Forest Department authorities in those sanctuaries.



Blaming the administration for not doing enough to combat illegal rhino killings, AASU, the state’s largest student organisation, has launched a campaign to create awareness against rhino poaching.



Earlier on April 28, two rhinos including a calf were killed by organised poacher gangs; unremitting poaching has so far jeopardised conservation effort of this endangered wildlife.


In Context:


As per the last government report on rhino population in Assam is a little over 2000 out of which Kaziranga inhabits about 1855, Orang 68 and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary 81; Assam alone abodes two-third of the world's estimated rhino population.



However, due to government negligence and growing network of organised poachers, the number has been decreased ever since compared to the last decade. In 2007, 18 rhinos were slaughtered in Kaziranga National Park alone.



According to a report during a period of 15 years from 1980 to 1995, about 1,509 rhinos died in Assam forest land which for obvious should cross few thousands mark adding the years till date but the forest department had only 1,498 horns in their custody which is awfully low. The missing rhino horns no doubt indicate some kind of nexus between forest department and rhino horn traders.



Between 1980 and 1997, some 550 rhinos were killed by organised poachers in Kaziranga - the highest being 48 in 1992. However, during 1998-2006, 47 were killed by illegal means taking an average over 10 rhinos in a year.



Earlier in February, a Citizens' meet, organised by Journalists' Forum, Assam supporting the demand for a CBI inquiry into the killings of rhinos in the state had urged Assam chief minister Tarun Gogoi 'to break his silence on the issue and let the people know his government's stand and the steps he has taken, if any, to stop the menace'.

When I first saw the pic of the asleep rhino I thought it was hurt. Once I read the article I felt really happy. I hope that IRV 2020 succeeds with its goal of 3,000 Rhinos.

Fresh rhino poaching in Kaziranga
Guwahati, Tue, 29 Apr 2008 NI Wire


The Kaziranga National Park woes continues with hunting of rhinos as yet again two rhinos including a calf were killed on Monday by organised poacher gangs, as park official informed.

Wildlife authorities at the national park in north-eastern state of Assam have sounded a maximum alert following the poaching as reported in a newspaper based in Guwahati.

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As per the local report a poacher gang, armed with sophisticated weapons, shot dead the mother rhino and her calf at Agaratoli range of national park.



A park official said, ‘the poachers were able to take away the horns after killing the rhinos’.



Kaziranga National Park, housing single largest and the endangered one-horned rhinos have seen sudden spurt in illegal rhino poaching in recent past. In the last three months poachers have so far killed six rhinos in the 166 square-miles park.



The last case was reported on 5th February when park authorities claimed to have identified poachers. Five to ten rhinos are killed every year on an average but the last couple of years recorded a stiff rise in the number. Last year alone, 18 rhinos were killed by poachers.



As per the latest figure, some 1,855 of the world's estimated 2,700 rhinos are known to reside in the habitat of Kaziranga. However, their conservation and protection of wildlife has been a major concern.



Between 1980 and 1997, some 550 rhinos were killed by organized poacher gangs in Kaziranga - the highest being 48 in 1992.



Though there has been a down fall in the number poached between 1998 and 2006 with just 47 killed with a tight vigil by wildlife authorities and locals but the number is yet again on the rise with the growing network of poachers.



They kill rhinos for their horns, which values about 1.5 million rupees per kilogram in the international market. It is also believed that the horn considered an aphrodisiac and used for local medicines and mostly smuggled to China and other Asian market.



Kaziranga is Assam's major tourist attraction but the administration has so far failed to check the illegal poaching in the park. Central Government has enacted the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972 to deal with the issues of wildlife conservation including wildlife crime. However, there needs much to be done with intensive patrolling in sensitive protected areas and nature awareness campaigns which can facilitate to saving this majestic wild life.

This is brilliant news WWF, keep up all the good work that you are doing.

I have gone through rhino information and am very happy.I wish all the best to WWF family.

Thanks.

Two MALE Rhinos!
Does WWF expect them to copulate?

It is really wonderful that Rhinoes are being saved. Congratulations!
luv u Rhino

Dear friends,

This is a very nice mission accomplished.

I hope the Rhino is still doing well and loving his new/old habitat.

Other rhino's to follow? Check for other zoo's for reintegration.

The interaction between humans and ancient annimals have been accomplished as I read at your site.

tha last thing I would like to hear as a human being on earth is that another endagered species is under severe extinction preserving rhinos is preserving balance on the planet and life for humans as well

why dont people try to save rhinos(except wwf)
rhinos are going extinct
chinmoy