In News
- December is the best time to translocate the rhinoceros of Assam as flood waters subside by that time as per a study published in Pachyderm journal.
Who conducted the study?
- The study was carried out in two protected areas in the Brahmaputra river Valley
- Kaziranga National Park (KNP) and
- Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS)
- It was recently published in the Pachyderm journal.
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About Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary (BWS)
- BWS is contiguous with the Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary (LWS) to the south of Brahmaputra River in Assam.
- The two areas are known collectively as the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries (LBWS).
- Following the death after the monsoon floods in 2016 of a lone sub-adult female translocated to BWS from KNP
- The study compared the behaviour of this individual during high flood periods to that of other adults, sub-adults and calves in KNP in 2017.
Source: Pachyderm
About Pachyderm
- Pachyderm means a very large mammal with thick skin, especially an elephant, rhinoceros, or hippopotamus.
- Pachyderm is also a bi-annual, international, and peer-reviewed journal that deals primarily with matters related to
- African elephant and African and Asian rhino conservation and management in the wild.
- It is also a platform for the dissemination of information concerning the activities of
- the African Elephant, the African Rhino, and the Asian Rhino Specialist Groups of the IUCN Species Survival Commission.
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Key highlights of the study
- Movement across highlands:
- The study observed a new behavioural category, i.e swimming.
- Despite heavy flood water current, calves and sub-adult rhinos in KNP and especially the lone BWS sub-adult female rhino were observed to swim frequently .
- The motive for these movements may have been to eat the aquatic plants or (in the case of KNP individuals) to avoid other animals.
- Behaviour towards stress:
- The study found that during the high flood period, adult rhinos of KNP spent most time resting.
- It may be a behavioural response to overcome stress during this time.
- In contrast, adult rhinos were almost never observed swimming.
- They remained on the highland refuges, appeared sluggish and hardly moved.
- The minimal movement of adult rhinos was not only a tactic to overcome stress, but also previous experience of high floods .
- That it is safer to remain on the raised areas and not to attempt to escape by swimming against the strong current.
- Adult rhinos are the best choice for translocation:
- Rather than a sub-adult or a mother with a calf as adult animals have better survival capabilities than others.
- Best time for translocation:
- The ideal time for rhino translocation would be early December.
- This allows areas to recover from the effects of floods in June to September
- While allowing newly released rhinos sufficient time to settle in their new habitat before the next monsoon starts.
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Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020
- A rhino reintroduction plan was developed under the Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020.
- The goal of IRV2020 was to increase the rhino population in Assam to 3,000 by establishing populations in new areas.
- Rhinos are now found in four protected areas in Assam:
- Pobitora Wildlife Reserve,
- Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park,
- Kaziranga National Park and
- Manas National Park.
- It was collectively implemented by
- The Department of Environment and Forest, Assam in partnership with Bodo Autonomous Council
- Supported by
- WWF India,
- WWF areas (Asian Rhino and Elephant action strategy) program,
- the international rhino Foundation(IRF),
- US fish and wildlife service, and others support the plan.
Reasons for Indian Rhino Vision plan
- Assam had at least five rhino-bearing areas till the 1980s.
- Conservation efforts helped maintain the population of the one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga, Orange and Pobitora National Parks.
- But the encroachment and poaching wiped out the one-horned rhinos from Manas and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary.
- Manas National Park thus lost the World Heritage Site tag it received in 1985 along with Kaziranga from UNESCO.
- However, the translocated rhinos helped Manas National Park get back its World Heritage Site status in 2011.
- Manas is also known for the near-extinction of the pygmy hog.
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Importance of the study and Conclusion
- The largest population of Indian rhinoceros lives on the Brahmaputra flood plains.
- Here, flooding poses a major threat to their survival.
- This study finding may therefore be incorporated into the design and implementation of Indian rhino conservation programmes.
- Better implementation of Indian Rhinos Conservation Programs
- Additionally, the study will help shape future expansion programmes for Indian rhinos in the same habitat.
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Greater One-Horned Rhino
Source: WWF
- There are three species of rhino in Asia
- Greater one-horned (Rhinoceros unicornis),
- Javan and
- Sumatran.
- The two greatest threats to the survival of Asia’s rhinos are
- poaching for the horns and
- habitat loss are
- The five rhino range nations
- India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia
- Have signed ‘The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019’ for the conservation and protection of the species.
- IUCN Red list
- Javan and Sumatran Rhino are critically endangered
- The Greater one-horned (or Indian) rhino is vulnerable
- CITES
- All three listed under Appendix I .
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Greater one-horned rhino is listed under the Schedule I of the act.
- Habitat of Greater One-Horned Rhino in India
- The species is restricted to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and northern West Bengal and Assam.
- Kaziranga NP, Pobitora WLS, Orang NP, Manas NP in Assam
- Jaldapara NP and Gorumara NP in West Bengal and
- Dudhwa TR in Uttar Pradesh.
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Source: DTE
