|
Project update
- November 2006
Major victory
in the war against poaching of Indian one-horned rhinos in the
State of Assam
 2nd
November, Assam: Following a photographic tip-off from the Wildlife
Crime Monitoring Project administered by ‘Aaranyak’,
which has been involved in the investigation of the illegal trade
in wildlife body parts, the Indian Army carried out a raid in
two villages in the Darrang district of Assam, resulting in the
arrest of four men. Between them, these four men were responsible
for 75% of the rhino poaching that has taken place during the
last three years in Assam’s three remaining rhino-bearing
areas – Kaziranga and Orang National Parks and Pabitora Wildlife
Sanctuary. In addition to the men themselves, several firearms
were also seized. ‘Aaranyak’ (meaning ‘biodiversity’)
has since been able to provide photographic and factual evidence
to the enforcement agencies in order to strengthen the case against
the four men and secure a conviction.
With ever increasing markets for elephant
ivory, rhino horn and tiger bones in China for use in the traditional
Chinese medicine trade, wildlife was, until 1995, disappearing
from this region at an alarming rate with an estimated 40 rhinos
being poached from Kaziranga annually.
A sustained conservation effort then ensued
which has since saved the rhino from near-certain extinction and
there is now an estimated population of approximately 2,500 animals.
Kaziranga National Park holds ¾ of the world population,
with an estimated 1,800 animals, making it fundamental to the
survival of the species, especially as the 400-500 animals in
Nepal are once again threatened by a new wave of poaching.
 The
UK based David Shepherd Wildlife Foundation responded in 1995
to an approach by 'Aaranyak', to work with them and provide funding
for undercover investigations and vitally needed radio communications
equipment for Kaziranga and Orang National Parks. This equipment
immediately enabled forest staff to report poaching incidents
and call for reinforcements, thereby hugely improving the morale
of staff routinely facing gangs of heavily armed poachers with
nothing but their own outdated equipment. The result was that
in the following five years, rhino poaching incidents were reduced
by half, with deaths down to single figures in the last five years.
However, with ever increasing pressure from the traditional Chinese
medicine trade, this figure was, once again beginning to rise.
The four poachers have been sought by the
authorities for the last three years, and their capture is a major
victory in the battle against poaching in general and for the
joint co-operation of the Army, the National Parks forest staff
and 'Aaranyak' in particular.
If you would like to make a donation towards
the conservation of the Indian one-horned rhino, please click
here (and choose India:Kaziranga Project).
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
|
