Project update - May 2007

Concerns over Kaziranga rhino's safety
Kishalay Bhattacharjee
Wednesday, May 9, 2007 (Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary)

With a spate of poaching incidents around the country from Kaziranga to Gir forests in Gujarat coming to light, NDTV and sanctuary Asia have started a campaign called poaching the future.

In the latest series we take a look at the condition in Kaziranga National Park.

Six rhinos have been recently been poached in the Kaziranga National Park.

Last week when NDTV reported this, the state government swung into action by sending in more forces to man the park and set up a wildlife crime unit. A day later two poachers were shot dead.

Just as the government is trying to wash away the taint on India's biggest conservation success story, NDTV's team visited Pabitora Sanctuary, which has the highest density of rhinos.

According to the last count it had 81 rhinos in a core area of just 16 sqkms.

But questions are being raised on their safety here considering the fact that they are being targetted in Kaziranga.

Over 3000 cows graze the fields everyday and now it's not just cows grazing inside the sanctuary.

As a result the rhinos have started straying out so the sanctuary limits have extended far beyond what the map actually shows.

Effective patrolling

At least 300sq kms require effective patrolling but there is no adequate staff.

''No one wants to go to wildlife and once he goes it's difficult to send someone else,'' said M C Malakar, PCCF, Assam.

Haq, who has been serving here for the past 17 years says he's now tired. As the monsoons approach the forest staff is worried.

Three months of the year Pabitora has no power and there's no generator, so wireless sets can't be charged as a result coordination during patrolling is impossible.

''They are under tremendous threat and all the time we have to take action against the poachers. The moment we reduce the protection measures they strike,'' said Malakar.

Cash strapped

Besides infrastructure most of the parks are cash starved even Kaziranga says they can't pay their fuel dues.

''Funds will have to be increased especially for information gathering, it's a costly affair,'' said Malakar.

Today, wildlife trade is only second to Narcotics in the global illegal trade at an estimated volume of $10 billion, the rhino forms a substantial part of it.

''I think it will be about 10 per cent. The rhino is a the prime target species and for which the market is China, Hong Kong and South Korea is responsible perhaps of killing about 150 rhinos per year,'' said said Bihab Talukdar, Secretary, Aaranyak.

But filling up vacancies in Parks, setting up wildlife crime bureaus, having better infrastructure may not be enough.

''Poachers are adaptive, smugglers are adaptive so whatever steps the government takes needs to be adaptive. We need to look at who are buyers when we identify the buyers it's easier to control poaching,'' said Talukdar.

The population of rhino is steadily increasing so is the demand for its horn. One of the only pre historic animals alive is clearly clinging for survival.

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