Rhino reintroduction success in Assam

In News

• Recently, the latest census (14th Assam rhino estimation) revealed that the Manas National Park rhinos have higher life expectancy but need translocation support.

About the 14th Assam rhino estimation 

• The rhino census in the Manas Park was carried out in all three ranges: Bhuyanpara, Bansbari and Panbari comprising 71 estimation blocks. 
• The current rhino population in the park was estimated at 40.
• The park’s rhinos have a male-female sex ratio of 1:1.
  • The number of calves born in the wild reflects the availability of welfare factors to foster rhinos in Manas National Park.
• Methodology: Total count or Direct count method
  • A total count is generally used when a single species is targeted to be counted in a well-defined, specific area.
  • This method assumes the detection probability to be one, which means that each and every animal has a 100% chance of being seen during the counting.
  • Limitations of this method
    • It has a few limitations.
    • The limitations of this method include undercounting as the assumption of a detection probability of 1 is unrealistic especially if the population closure cannot be established satisfactorily within a small area of 10-20 sq. km.
    • Total count requires high visibility to observe the animals from far off, which is not possible in case of “shy, cryptic animals”.
    • The level of precision cannot be measured in total counts either.

Reasons for translocation

• Age structure pyramid: The one-horned rhinos of western Assam’s Manas National Park, bordering Bhutan, have an age structure pyramid, indicating higher life expectancy and significant growth in the population.
• The Indian side of the park does not have a wider representation of calves and sub-adults to sustain the population structure unless it is supplemented through conservation translocations. 

Issues/ Challenges

• Ethno-political conflict: Manas tiger reserve had about 100 resident rhinos prior to 1990, but a prolonged ethno-political conflict thereafter took a heavy toll with extremist groups known to have traded the horns of the herbivores for weapons.
• The largest population of Indian rhinoceros lives on the Brahmaputra flood plains. Here, flooding poses a major threat to their survival.

Conservation Efforts by India

• The Ministry of Environment and Forests (MoEF)  has launched a National Conservation Strategy for Indian One-Horned Rhino and the conservation initiatives for rhino has also enriched the grassland management which helps in reducing the negative impacts of climate change through carbon sequestration.
• New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019: Signed by India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia to conserve and protect the rhinos.
• Project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos by the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC).
• Indian Rhino Vision 2020: It is a unique programme where the government partnered international, national and local organisations for the conservation of the rhinos.
  • Under it, Manas has received a total of 22 rhinos from other protected areas.
  • 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.
• The Indian and Nepalese governments have taken major steps toward Indian Rhinoceros conservation with the help of the World Wildlife Fund (WWF). 
• World Rhino Day
  • It is celebrated on September 22 every year.
  • It was first announced by WWF-South Africa in 2010. The following year, World Rhino Day grew into an international success, encompassing both African and Asian rhino species.
  • This special day provides the opportunity for cause-related organisations, NGOs, zoos, and members of the public to celebrate rhinos in their own unique ways.
  • It celebrates all five species of rhino: Black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan rhinos.
  • The scientific name and  conservation status of the five species are: 

o   Javan Rhinos (Rhinoceros sondaicus): Critically Endangered 

o   Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis): Critically Endangered 

o   Black rhinos (Diceros bicornis): Critically Endangered 

o   White rhinos (Ceratotherium simum): Near Threatened 

o   Greater One-Horned Rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis): Vulnerable

Way forward

• The Kaziranga National Park authorities have restricted the speed of vehicles on the highway adjoining the park to 40 km per hour. This is an annual step taken to prevent vehicles from hitting animals that move out of the park during high floods.

Source:TH