The state of River Dolphins and Rhinos of Assam.

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Link: www.sentinelassam.com ( see in 'State' column )

 

Urge to prevent poaching of gangetic river dolphin by making people aware

Census detects 2,006 rhinoceroses in State

 

From our Correspondent

CHHAYGAON, May 29: The Assam Government has given special attention

for safeguarding the gangetic river dolphin (platanista gangetica) of

Assam and several steps have been taken to protect the endangered

species, said Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife), Assam Mohan

Chandra Malakar.

Malakar said that the gangetic river dolphins were killed for the oil

extracted from its flesh which is used for catching a particular fish

called naariah fish, a catfish species by the fishermen. " The

Government has felt the need of supplying synthetic oil similar to

dolphin oil to the fishermen and soon fishermen would get the

artificial imported oil. The fishermen in Bihar have already been

provided the artificial oil in order to protect the gangetic dolphin

there, " he said.

He was talking in an awareness camp, " Saving Gangetic Dolphin:

Eco-tourism and Livelihood " organized by C-NES in collaboration with

Gramya Arthanoitic Bikash Kendra at Ziakur near here on May 27.

Malakar said that forest resources of extreme value in Assam could not

be protected by a handful of foresters unless there is public support.

He urged the people to consider forest resources in Assam as their own

property and cooperate in protection of these resources wholeheartedly.

Citing an example of great Indian rhinoceros poaching, he said that

poachers could get Rs 5 lakh to Rs 6 lakh from a rhino horn and hence

despite round the clock vigil by dedicated forest teams, the poaching

of rhino has not stopped and hence public has to raise their voice

against poachers involving in plundering our best resources.

The Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) said that in Assam,

population of rhino is rising despite great threat from poachers and

at present Assam has 2,006 rhinoceroses as per census conducted in

2006. He said the population of rhino in the Kaziranga National Park

has increases to 1,855 in 2006 from 1,552 in 2000, rhino in Pobitora

Wildlife Sanctuary has also risen from 74 (as per census in 2000) to

81 (in 2006), the Orang National Park has the credit of increase in

rhino population from 46 (in 2000) to 68 (in 2006), while in Laokhowa

only one rhino has been spotted.

The population of pigmy hog, that inhabit only in the Manas National

Park and the Barnadi Wildlife Sanctuary out of the world, has also

increased. The world's critically endangered species population has

been increased through a captive breeding centre in Guwahati.

Mentioning that the gangetic river dolphin of the Kulsi river has

tremendous potential to boost the tourism sector in Assam, Jainal

Abedin, a tourism related entrepreneur and wildlife photographer based

in Tinsukia, has guided the youths in the Kulsi river area how to

introduce the tourism sector in Kukurmara.

He advised the budding eco-tourism related entrepreneurs to build

cottage by cane, thatch and bamboo by investing minimum fund and

displaying Assam's rich natural resources and use small engine-less

country boats to show tourists the aquatic gangetic dolphin at the

Kulsi river.

Sanjoy Hazarika, noted journalist and the managing trustee, C-NES,

said how the C-NES has been formed and about its functions. Hazarika

believed that dolphin of the Kulsi could be an important catalyst for

giving livelihood to the people near the river.

MM Goswami, professor of Zoology, Gauhati University said that the

gangetic river dolphin lives in the clean freshwater river and water

qualities of the Kulsi river is found to be best among other rivers

without having pollution.

He said gangetic dolphins have been accidentally killed by gilnets and

he urged fishermen to avoid fishing at the Kulsi by gilnets. Stating

that siltation in Kulsi has detrimental effect in the survival of the

gangetic dolphins, he urged to make effort for maintaining depth of

the river as dolphin likes to live in depth water.

The experts urged the NGOs concerned to protect dolphins by making

people aware who inhabit near the Kulsi than merely organizing

awareness camps. The experts have felt the need on the part of the

NGOs concerned to promote self-help groups (SHGs) for a sustainable

livelihood.