(IN): Translocation to save rhino

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http://www.assamtribune.com/scripts/details.asp?id=apr2509/letter

 

Translocation to save rhino

Sir, – This refers to your editorial under the heading, ‘Saving the

rhino’, (A.T., April 19).

 

It is indeed all the more heartening to learn that the rhino

population of Kaziranga National Park has been increasing by leaps and

bounds so much so that it has touched the unbelievely fantastic figure

of more than two thousand. It has ‘attracted attention of the wildlife

conservationists of the world. We must congratulate the forest

personnel of K.N.P. as well as the Government of Assam for the success

story of the Asiatic rhino preservation. Of course, there is public

enthusism too about the increase in wildlife within the park.

 

Long back J.C. Arthuthnott who served as officiating commissioner of

Assam Valley in the early 20th century wrote that rhino was formerly

common in Assam which was exterminated except in the remote localities

at the foot of Bhutan hills and the present Kaziranga; where a few

rhino existed. With this consideration the government created an

asylum for the rhino which led to the proposal of game reserves at

Kaziranga, Manas and Laokhowa in 1905. Laokhowa was made a game

reserve in 1907 covering 25760 acres of land in Juria mouza of Nagaon

district.

 

In 1945 a visiting group saw only 30 rhinos in Kaziranga. Thanks to

the great vision late Mahi Chandra Miri who belonged to Imperial

Forest Service and who was posted in Kaziranga forest reserve in the

30s of the last century the remaining rhino population could be saved

from the clutches of the dare devil poachers.

 

You have rightly pointed out that the timely execution of

translocation programme of rhino is over due, since 90 per cent of

rhino population of Kaziranga and Pabitara are exposed to different

risks such as food scarcity etc. K.N.P. is already overpopulated for

rhino habitat. Over and above, the geographical area of KNP is

decreasing every year due to erosion caused by river Brahmaputra.

Translocation is the only means open to save the ever increasing

population of rhino.

 

Laokhowa forest is now the only ideal habitat for rhino with tall

grassland and a number of water bodies (beels). There was a time when

Laokhowa forest reserve had all varities of wild animals including a

large number of rhinos. Now the whole rhino population is wiped out by

the poachers and wanton destruction is also caused to the forest

wealth. The government is simply the mute observer, as it were. If

Laokhowa could be restored to its past glory and made free from the

clutches of the poachers and encroachers quite a large number of rhino

could easily be translocated from Kaziranga to Laokhowa. What is

required is commitment and political will of the government.

 

In the early 30s when poaching of rhino could not be stopped in Manas

by the forest personnel, A. Milroy a veteran forester, placed a

platoon of Assam Rifles in Manas and thereby saved the remaining rhino

from the poachers. The Government of Assam can follow such example in

case of Laokhowa too, if it is required. – Yours etc., RAMANI KANTA

DEKA, President, Kaziranga Wild Life Society.

 

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