Assam: Rhino Population Estimation begins in Kaziranga
Kaziranga (Assam), Mar 26 (IBNS): Rhino Population Estimation 2018 in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park started from Monday.
Recognized as a world heritage wildlife site by UNESCO, the Kaziranga National Park authorities have been conducting the one horned rhino census headcount at Kaziranga Range in Kohora; Western Range in Bagori, Burapahar Range, Ghorakati Range with elephants and assisted by the armed forest guards.
On Mar 27, the rhino census will be conducted at Eastern Range in Agoratoli.
The state forest department officials, representatives of different NGOs and media persons are also participating in the rhino population estimation.
Due to the rhino population estimation, the jeep safari was closedon Monday at at Kaziranga Range in Kohora; Western Range in Bagori, Burapahar Range, Ghorakati Range and will remain closed on Mar 27 at Eastern Range in Agoratoli.
The census will be continued till Mar 28.
The park authorities said that, rhino estimation has been conducted in 36 blocks on Monday on the southern bank of Diphalo river flowing through Kaziranga National Park and in 38 blocks on the northern bank of the river on Mar 27.
On Mar 28, a special sample will be estimated in some selected compartments in the world heritage site and total figures of the rhinos will be counted for 2018 will be finalized after collecting all figures from the all compartments.
A total of 2329 rhinos were found in 2013 while it increased to 2401 in 2015.
Assam Forest minister Pramila Rani Brahma said the state forest department has taken adequate measures to protect wild animals including one horned rhinos in Kaziranga and other parts of state.
“We expect that, rhino population will be increased in Kaziranga,” Pramila Rani Brahma said.
The park had lost 401 animals, out of which 31 one horned rhinos and 9 elephants were killed due to last year massive flood.
In past two years Kaziranga has lost 21 rhinos which were poached inside the park.
Poachers had killed 14 rhinos in 2016, 7 in 2017 and 3 in this year so far.
(Reporting by Hemanta Kumar Nath)
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