Revision as of 08:09, 24 June 2018

Rhinoceros population

2014-16

See graphic:

Rhinoceros in South Asia, statistics

Rhinoceros in South Asia, statistics; The Times of India, April 5, 2017

2018: 2,413 rhinos in India

Rahul Karmakar, March 30, 2018: The Hindu

There is an increase of 12 rhinos from the 2015 estimate.

Kaziranga’s iconic one-horned rhino population has risen by 12 individuals. The latest headcount of the armour-plated herbivore in Assam’s world-famous reserve put the estimated number at 2,413 rhinos. This is an increase of a dozen over the 2015 figure.

After a review of the data, State wildlife officials said fewer rhinos may have been sighted this time due to the incomplete burning of tall grasses and reeds. This could be due to high moisture content. Burning of grasses is necessary for regeneration of low-lying vegetation in the 434 sq. km. park, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that also faces annual floods.

“We estimated the rhino population to be 2,413 after a two-day exercise that ended on Tuesday. This estimate, as with the census of the past, is plus or minus 100,” N.K. Vasu, the State’s Chief Wildlife Warden, said.

Gender unclear

Data released by the Assam Forest Department show that Kaziranga National Park now has 1,641 adult rhinos, of which 793 are females, 642 males and 206 ‘un-sexed’, which means the gender could not be ascertained. The number of sub-adult rhinos (four to six years old) was estimated to be 387, of which 149 are females, 116 males and 122 ‘un-sexed’. The calf count was 385. “Unlike past estimations, we had to deal with poor grass burning that could have led to under-counting. We could burn about 20% compared to normal mark of 60-70% every year,” Akashdeep Baruah, Director, KNP, told The Hindu. Kaziranga is the second of four habitats where the census was conducted. The first was at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary near Guwahati, where the count this time was 102, up from 93 in 2012.

The census at Manas National Park was over, and it would be done on April 2 in Orang National Park. Assam has an estimated 2,645 rhinos in all.

Threats

Assam

Rahul Karmakar, ‘Rhino habitat under threat of mining’, June 23, 2018: The Hindu

Outlining the threat posed to the rhino habitat, also a tiger reserve, environmentalist and RTI activist Rohit Choudhury has complained about the non-implementation of the recommendations of the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA) by the Assam government for stopping all mining, quarrying and stone crushing activities in the Kaziranga-Karbi Anglong landscape.

‘NTCA ignored’

“The NTCA had in its report on April 20 asked the State government to immediately stop such activities that are severely hampering the survival and conservation of the tiger, its habitats, co-predators, prey, including mega herbivores, and their transit routes during the annual flood season,” Mr. Choudhury said on Saturday.

During floods, animals of low-lying Kaziranga National Park flee to the adjoining kills of Karbi Anglong district. Some stone mines and quarries are on their transit routes. “The NTCA found that stone mining/quarrying and stone crushers in the area between Kaziranga and the Karbi Anglong hills are responsible for the destruction of wildlife corridors and vital wildlife habitat essential for long ranging species like Indian elephants and tigers. In addition, these stone mining/quarrying and stone crushers are also responsible for drying up and siltation of several natural streams and rivulets flowing from the Karbi Anglong hills towards Kaziranga,” Mr. Choudhury wrote in his letter.

The Assam government, he said, has shown “complete disregard” to the NTCA’s recommendations.

Accusing the State Forest Department of corruption, Mr. Choudhury sought action from the Union Ministry.