Project update - April 2005

Wildlife crime in north east India
Report from Project Director: Dr. Bibhab Kumar Talukdar

The Kaziranga National Park

In the far North East corner of this vast country is one of the jewels in India's crown - Kaziranga National Park. In 1905, 57,000 acres were set aside as a forest reserve in an emergency effort to save the Indian one-horned rhinoceros which by that time numbered fewer than 20 animals. Kaziranga was declared a National Park in 1974 and World Heritage Site 1985. It is home to a huge variety of wildlife species and the 'Big Five of Kaziranga' include the rhino, which today numbers over 1,700, the elephant, one of India's largest concentrations of Bengal tigers, swam deer and water buffalo.

Kaziranga celebrates its Centenary!

In February the authorities took the opportunity to showcase the true conservation success of Kaziranga with their centenary celebrations which were attended by Governors, Ministers and countless distinguished dignitaries including the Chief Minister of Assam, the Indian Minister for State Environment and Forests, various Forest ministers of north eastern States of India, the Governor of Assam, the Director of the British Council, representatives of the International Rhino Foundation and Asian Rhino Specialist Group, guests and tourists. The occasion was fully utilized to promote the DSWF funded Communications Project which has provided a radio network for all forest officers patrolling the park and has led to the halving of rhino deaths from flooding and poaching.

Protection extends to Orang National Park and Pabitora Santuary

The trio of parks, now offered protection by DSWF, also includes Orang National Park and Pabitora Sanctuary which have all reported a considerable reduction in poaching due to intense intelligence gathering and pro-active protection measures by the forest guards. Their work is hard and dangerous in the face of adversity with rangers often risking death and injury fighting poachers and insurgents. On 31st February 2005, at Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary four forest guards of the sanctuary were attacked by a group of poachers in the early morning near the Haduk wetland area of the sanctuary. The four anti-poaching forest staff - Robin Singh, Nilo Bora, Paban Saikia and Milaram Nath were attacked with a sharp weapon and badly injured. They were taken to Gauhati Medical College Hospital on the morning of the 21st for treatment.

Has poaching slowed down?

The poaching of rhino in Assam during 2004 and 2005 was greatly controlled due to intense intelligence gathering and pro-active protection measures initiated by the forest guards. DSWF has been playing a major and continued shadow support system by fuelling the necessary resources needed for intelligence gathering coordinated by the Wildlife Crime Monitoring Centre (WCMC) of Aaranyak. During 2004 and up to 30th March 2005 the rhino deaths in three rhino bearing areas in Assam were as follows:

The above figure reflects the reduction of poaching to an extent, however there is no room for complacency as even young animals are targeted. In January poachers shot dead a two year old rhino calf at Pabitora - despite it having virtually no value at all in illegal trade! However, this incident has sparked further action with WCMC lobbying at the highest government level to enhance the protection measures at Pabitora sanctuary.

In 2004 there was zero poaching in Orang, however, this has now sadly risen to 2 rhino. This discovery was made during a joint raid on suspected rhino poachers near Juria, conducted by Dalgaon Police on the morning of 4th April, based on intelligence provided by the Wildlife Crime Monitoring Centre of Aaranyak (WCMC). A cash sum of over 4 million rupees was found in a house owned by a man called Sanu believed to be in exchange for recently poached rhino horn. It transpired that tragically two rhinos were killed by poachers in March 2005. One rhino was killed by a pit poaching method near the Rangagoarh area of Orang National Park whose dead body was recovered by forest officials on 27th March. The other rhino was killed by gunshot on 30th March near the Katasali area of the park. The WCMC and forest officials liaised with the police regarding the suspected activities of Sanu and their efforts are to be praised as he was arrested at his residence. With such effective joint initiatives rhino poachers can be booked under the rule of law and the continued efforts of the police and forest officials working cooperatively and effectively will enhance the chances of survival of the rhino in the national park in the future.

Wildlife trade grows with China

As investigations by WCMC extend, of growing concern are the increasing links of wildlife trade deep into China. Recent investigations into illegal smuggling in various villages bordering Myanmar uncovered large stocks of wildlife products. The pictures are shocking and show a link of wildlife trade between Nagaland to Myanmar and China. This proves the value of DSWF funding and the continued urgent need to stop this barbarous trade. This discovery is going to be a major task for the WCMC team in months to come who will conduct an undercover investigation to get crucial information on international wildlife trade based on illegal trans-boundary border trade.

Every little contribution helps wildlife and remember 100% of your donation will go in full to the project - thank you!

You can also help by becoming a member of DSWF. Click here for more information

top of page