Bolstered by the success of translocating the first batch of one-horned rhinos to Manas National Park under the Indian Rhino Vision Plan 2020, the Assam Forest Department is now preparing for sending two more rhinos to the park. While the first two rhinos released on April 12 were males from Pobitora Sanctuary, the next rhinos selected for translocation would be two females, also from Pobitora.

"Help save rhinos,' a poster appealed. A photograph of a severely-bloodied rhino loomed out of it. We were at Jakhalbanda, a regular halt for buses taking visitors to the Kaziranga National Park. It

UDALGURI

There has been a sharp increase in the number of rhinos poached in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, with as many as 18 of them being killed in the sanctuary in 2007.

Additional guards have been deployed to protect the one-horned rhinos at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam where poachers have killed 23 of the animals for their horns since last year.

Not just the famed one-horned rhino, but the dense forests sheltering it are also in danger in Asom, as poaching and deforestation continues unabated.

The Manas National Park in Assam has received its fourth one-horned rhino, seven years after its approximately 100-strong population was wiped out by poachers. On February 24, the one-and-a-half-year-old female rhino was released in the Kuribeel area of the Bansbari range in the park. The four rhinos, all orphaned female, rescued by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), its partner the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and the Assam Forest Department, were hand-raised at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation near the Kaziranga National Park. The first three rhinos were transferred to Manas by the WTI-IFAW in 2006. Releasing the rhinos, A.K. Swargiary, Director of the park, expressed the hope that this action would mark the beginning of the revival of the rhino population there. This would be followed by wild-to-wild transfer by the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 team. The last native rhino in the park, a female, was killed by poachers on the Kokilabari beat in 2001 after two decades of ethnic strife, which left most of the park devastated and claimed the lives of eight forest officials. Ucchila, about 5 km from Kuribeel, was considered the best habitat for the rhino and had the highest concentration of the animal. It is expected that the four female rhinos would move to this area. The young rhino which was released in Manas last week was rescued from a tea garden next to the Kaziranga National Park after its mother was shot dead by poachers in September 2007. It was transported for over 300 km to its new home. Park secure The Security Assessment Group of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020, in its update on security assessment, said 80 per cent of the Manas National Park was secure and that it was safe to release the animals there. Manas is considered one of the world's richest biodiversity hotspots, contiguous to forests of Bhutan. Home to tigers and elephants, it is also a designated Project Tiger Reserve. A repository of 22 critically endangered species, Manas was declared a World Heritage site by the United Nations Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organisation in 1985.

Besides poaching, loss of habitat, toxins cause deaths It is not just India's national animal tiger which is in danger at the hands of poachers in the country. Officials figures suggest that the future of other animals in the wild - elephants, rhinos and critically-endangered gharials - is also not so safe despite efforts being put in by the Centre and state governments. Between December 2007 and February 2008, as many as 105 gharials have been reported dead. However, the reason for the decline in their numbers is attributed to possibility of nephro-toxin entering the food chain and loss of habitat due to illegal sand mining. Official records reveal that in the past three years, the number of poaching cases related to elephants has been steadily rising. During 2004-05, 18 elephants were poached, during 2005-06, the number of dead tuskers was 16 and in 2006-07, it increased up to 23. The 2007 Census said there are 18,663 elephants in the country, minus the Northeastern states. Similar has been the case with rhinos. As per the information released by the Assam Government, 18 rhinos were poached in 2007 and four rhinos have already fallen prey to the poachers' greed till date in 2008 in the Kaziranga National Park and adjacent areas in Assam. Regarding the critically endangered gharials, the MoEF said that as per the last Census in 2007, the number of gharials in National Chambal Sanctuary is 1457, Son Gharial Sanctuary 106, Ken Gharial Sanctuary 12 and Katerniaghat Sanctuary 70 to 80. About 105 gharials have been reported dead between December 2007 and February 2008. While no particular reason can be attributed to their mortality, the possibility of nephro-toxin entering via the food-chain cannot be ruled out, officials say, adding that another reason has been the loss of habitat due to illegal sand mining. The Central Government has taken several initiatives, including constitution of multidisciplinary Tiger and Other Endangered Species Crime Control Bureau (Wildlife Crime Control Bureau) comprising officers from the police, forest, customs and other enforcement agencies to effectively control illegal trade in wildlife. The government is also providing financial and technical assistance to state governments under the various Centrally sponsored schemes - Development of National Parks and Sanctuaries, Project Tiger and Project Elephant. State governments too claim to be taking measures, including increase in patrolling and coordination with other law enforcing agencies, which clearly are not enough. And it is not just poaching that wild animals are at risk with. As per information available, four tigers and 21 elephants were killed due to train and road accidents during the past three years in the 514 wildlife sanctuaries in the country.

Manas National Park has received its first greater one horned rhinos seven years after it was was wiped out by poachers. On February 24, the director of Manas, a world heritage site, released the fourth rhino, a one-and-half-year-old female, in the Kuribeel area of the Bansbari range. The four rhinos, all orphaned females, rescued by the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), its partner the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), and the Assam forest department, were hand-raised at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near the Kaziranga National Park. The first three rhinos were transferred to Manas by WTI-IFAW in 2006. "I am delighted to welcome these rhinos to the Manas. I am sure that this move by WTI-IFAW will be the beginning of the revival of the rhino population in the park. This will be followed by the wild to wild transfer by Indian Rhino Vision 2020 team,' AK Swargiary, director Manas said. "Rhino is the pride of Assam and I am proud that WTI-IFAW has been able to support the Assam forest department in bringing back the first rhinos to this amazing Manas landscape. I hope our effort will be supplemented by others so that Manas regains its lost glory,' Vivek Menon, executive director, WTI said. MNP's last native rhino, a female, was killed by poachers in the Kokilabari beat in 2001 after two decades of ethnic strife, which devastated most of the park and killed eight forest officers. The one and half year old female calf, which was released last week, was rescued from a tea garden next to Kaziranga National Park after its mother was shot dead by poachers in September 2007. It was transported over 300 kilometers to its new home in Manas. "While conducting the post mortem we realised that the mother was lactating and therefore a calf had to be around and we started looking for it,' Dr Anjan Talukdar veterinary officer with WTI-IFAW said. Earlier, the Security Assessment Group of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020, had in its Update Report on Security Assessment in December 2007 said that 80 per cent of the Manas National Park was secure and that it was safe to release the animals there. Home to tigers and elephants it is also a designated Project Tiger reserve. A repository of 22 critically endangered species, Manas was declared a World Heritage site by the UNESCO in 1985. On ground conservation action commenced at Manas after the signing of an agreement between the Bodo people and the Government of India in 2003 and the subsequent formation of the Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC). The responsibility for management of the park now rests with the BTC and the Assam forest department. The BTC deputy chief, Khampa Borgoyari, has stated that Manas is an asset and should be managed to protect wildlife. The BTC had earlier strongly recommended the formation of Greater Manas adding the adjacent forest, also called Manas, and the Ripu-Chirang forest, increasing its effective spread to 950 sq kms, up from 300. The BTC's declaration followed a study conducted by the Wildlife Trust of India and its partner, the International Fund for Animal Welfare, supported by the British government, which strongly recommended its creation. "The BTC is proud to add this piece of forest to Manas. It is well aware of its responsibilities for the conservation of forests and wildlife and other natural resources of the region so that our people can enjoy the benefits for much longer. We are striving hard to strike that balance and I am confident that our officers with support of non-governmental organisations will make this happen,' Kampa Borgoyari, deputy chief of the BTC said.