GUWAHATI: Forest officials have initiated steps to protect rhinos, which have left flooded Kaziranga National Park, from falling into the hands of poachers. An unspecified number of the one-horned pachyderms have entered the hill district of Karbi Anglong looking for shelter in elevated forest land.
"We've set up10 additional anti-poaching camps to protect the rhinos that have moved to the fringes of Kaziranga and neighbouring Karbi Anglong. Besides, we've brought in about 100 additional guards from other other forest divisions to stop possible poaching of the fleeing animals," divisional forest officer (Kaziranga) DD Gogoi said.
There is a possibility of about 100 rhinos escaping to fringe areas like Haldibari, Kanchanjuri and Panbari for safety. Kaziranga, a 430-sqkm World Heritage Site, has 2, 290 rhinos, which is more than half of the world's total one-horned rhinos. "With the fall in water level, a majority of the rhinos have returned to their habitats," said Gogoi.
Taking advantage of the floods, poachers killed two rhinos last week. Fourteen rhinos, mostly calves, old and sick ones, died because of the floods. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, situated 50km from here, lost one rhino to poachers.
"Poachers become active during floods. They target rhinos that stray into fringe areas for shelter. We've intensified patrolling in such areas. Our intelligence wing is monitoring the movement of poachers," a Kaziranga park official said. State forest minister Rockybul Hussain also asked park officials to remain alert and catch those who killed rhinos trying to escape from floods last week. In all, Kaziranga lost 573 animals, including 486 hog deer, during the recent floods. The famed park has about 25,000 hog deer.
"We've set up10 additional anti-poaching camps to protect the rhinos that have moved to the fringes of Kaziranga and neighbouring Karbi Anglong. Besides, we've brought in about 100 additional guards from other other forest divisions to stop possible poaching of the fleeing animals," divisional forest officer (Kaziranga) DD Gogoi said.
There is a possibility of about 100 rhinos escaping to fringe areas like Haldibari, Kanchanjuri and Panbari for safety. Kaziranga, a 430-sqkm World Heritage Site, has 2, 290 rhinos, which is more than half of the world's total one-horned rhinos. "With the fall in water level, a majority of the rhinos have returned to their habitats," said Gogoi.
Taking advantage of the floods, poachers killed two rhinos last week. Fourteen rhinos, mostly calves, old and sick ones, died because of the floods. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, situated 50km from here, lost one rhino to poachers.
"Poachers become active during floods. They target rhinos that stray into fringe areas for shelter. We've intensified patrolling in such areas. Our intelligence wing is monitoring the movement of poachers," a Kaziranga park official said. State forest minister Rockybul Hussain also asked park officials to remain alert and catch those who killed rhinos trying to escape from floods last week. In all, Kaziranga lost 573 animals, including 486 hog deer, during the recent floods. The famed park has about 25,000 hog deer.
No comments:
Post a Comment