(IN): Asom bent on protecting its mascot rhino

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Link: http://www.sentinelassam.com

 

Asom bent on protecting its mascot rhino

By a Staff Reporter

GUWAHATI, April 23: Asom Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain today

announced an emergency action plan to check rhino poaching at the

Kaziranga National Park (KNP). The plan includes rushing armed home

guard contingents to the Park, setting up Wildlife Crime Control

Committees at the district level, filling up of vacancies of security

and other staff at the Park and seeking cooperation of people around

the reserve in rhino conservation.

" The rhino is Asom's pride and we are bent on protecting this rare

animal. We are confident that some of the plans which we have drawn up

today will show results and bring down poaching at KNP, " Hussain, who

presided over a meeting here attended by senior Forest and Police

officials, told The Sentinel.

The government action has come in the wake of poachers, backed

possibly by global animal trade syndicates, killing six rare

one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) at KNP since January. Two of

the rhinos have been killed during the past fortnight.

Hussain said a decision has been taken to immediately fill up 50 of

the 111 posts of foresters and others currently vacant at KNP. " We are

rushing in personnel from Territorial and Social Forestry to KNP to

bridge the gap in manpower and the remaining vacancies will be filled

up soon, " the Minister said.

Wildlife Crime Control Committees are being set up at the district

level under the chairmanship of the local Superintendent of Police.

The local Divisional Forest Officer (DFO) will be the Convenor. These

committees, Hussain said, would be meeting twice a month and have the

sittings at those places known to be frequented by poachers or places

prone to be hotbeds of wildlife crimes. The Range DIG of Police, SDO

(Civil) and the local Conservator of Forests will be Advisors to the

Committees which would also involve the OC of the local police station.

" We have asked the district forest authorities to prepare viable

schemes that would chart out a role of the Forest Department in

assisting fringe villages around KNP in areas such as providing

drinking water etc. We shall make sure the people come to know that

foresters are their friends, " Hussain said.

Today's meeting also decided that photographs of known poachers would

be put up at all police stations so that anyone with information on

such people can approach the police. Their identity would be kept

secret and they would also be suitable rewarded.

Hussain said armed home guards, starting with 24 of them, are being

rushed to KNP. The Park is home to 1,855 one-horned rhinos out of the

estimated global population of some 3,000, according to the last

census taken in March 2006.

Rhino horns are in great demand globally, particularly in Southeast

Asia, for their alleged efficacy in producing aphrodisiacs and

traditional medicines. Some people also use them to make decorative

dagger handles.

Conservation efforts have led to a rise in the rhino population and

they are now found even on the periphery of the park, making them

easier targets for poachers.

Hussain said forest guards have been active in trying to save the

rhino from poacher gangs over the years. Between 2003 and 2005, as

many as 13 poachers have been shot dead inside KNP while nearly 100 of

them have been arrested between 2004 and 2007.