Clarion call to save Assamese Rhinos

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Global campaign urged to save rhinos

 

 

Inaugurating AASU and Asom Unnati Sobha-sponsored Nagarik Sobha at

Kaziranga, yesterday, to accentuate the concern over recent killing of three

rhinos at Kaziranga National Park (KNP) by poachers,

internationally-renowned writer Arup Kumar Dutta said that a holistic

approach is needed to override the serious problem of rhino killing for its

horn and the irrational superstitions attached to it.

 

Citing reports from a Switzerland (Bassil)-based laboratory, Dutta said that

rhino horn is made up of carotene tissue, is totally inert and has no

aphrodisiacal or medicinal property. Recalling his first visit to KNP as a

child, then a reserve forest, Dutta elaborated on how he was deeply hurt

seeing a rhino carcass killed by poachers and how the incident led him to

write his first book Kaziranga trail as his first venture to highlight

conservation efforts for the critically endangered species.

 

To draw world attention to the rhino poaching problem, Dutta said an

international campaign is necessary to save the animal from extinction, as

two other species – one-horned Javan rhino and two-horned Sumatran rhino –

 

have long perished from our region. He added that a viable strategy should

be formulated involving experts, environmentalists and local people to check

trade on rhino horn banned since Convention for International Trade on

Environment (Flora and Fauna), March, 1973.

 

Earlier, AASU general secretary Tapan Gogoi, in his speech, expressed

concern over the alleged non-chalant attitude of the State's Forest Minister

Rokybul Hussain and silence of the Opposition parties on unabated rhino

poaching in the KNP.

 

Soumyadeep Dutta of Nature's Becon alleged that in spite of the Indian

Wildlife Protection Act 1927, the Assam Government continued to sell rhino

horns and during the period 1972 to 1980, the Forest Department sold over

338 rhino horns and he demanded a CBI inquiry into the issue.

 

Journalists' Forum, Assam's secretary Nava Thakuria also demanded a CBI

inquiry into the alleged involvement of Forest Department personnel in rhino

poaching and formation of a monitoring committee which will bring out a

bulletin regarding KNP wildlife and conservation activities.

 

Ronen Goswami, also of Journalists' Forum, categorically indicated

involvement of a section of the media in unethical nexus with unscrupulous

rhino horn traders. He said that Drubajyoti Saha, a local news correspondent

of the area, is being threatened by certain groups for writing against the

Forest Department and is passing through a harrowing period.

 

Arun Goswami, writer, lambasted the State Government and the Opposition

parties for neglecting KNP, the heart of the State. Kamal Gogoi, a local

environmentalist, said that only the forest guards know about the interiors

of the Park and, hence, it is not possible for the poachers to kill rhino

and go away with the horn without their help.

 

A host of speakers from various districts delivered speeches and threw light

on rhino and other related issues. A section of speakers demanded eviction

of all illegal settlers, local or of doubtful nationality whatsoever.

 

Others that attended the meeting were AASU adviser Dr Samujjal

Bhattacharjya, Dr Jogen Kalita, Dr Umesh Deka, Punya Saikia, Dr Biren

Borthakur, Dr Nilomoni Bora, Hrishikesh Goswami, Tiken Dutta, Santa Sarma,

Nanimadhov Mahanta, Parikshit Dutta, Dwipen Dutta, Pradip Gogoi and was

presided over by Jatin Bora, president (i/c) of AASU.

 

Contributed by Sivasagar Correspondent of The Assam Tribune, Feb 27, 2009