The population of one-horned rhinos in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has increased by 200 in the last four years, according to the results of the latest census released on Tuesday, indicating that poaching of the mammals whose horns are used in Chinese medicine has been successfully combated.
The count at KNPTR, which is the world’s largest habitat for endangered one-horned rhinos, was 2,613 according to the census conducted between March 25 and March 28. The national park’s rhino population was estimated to be 2,413 in the most recent census, which was conducted in 2018.
According to the most recent survey results, there are 750 adult male rhinos, 903 adult female rhinos, and 170 adult rhinos whose gender is unknown. There were also 116 sub-adult males, 146 sub-adult females, and 103 unknowns.
Moreover, a total of 279 juveniles (1 to 3 years) and 146 calves (0 to 1 ) were discovered during the census.
“The census revealed that Kaziranga has a healthy population of rhinos despite casualties due to natural deaths, floods and in-fighting. Reduction in poaching has also benefitted the species,” KNPTR director Jatindra Sarma, said.
In addition, he said that currently, the KNPTR has a population density of one-horned rhino per 0.2 square kilometres. The census was unique in that it was the first time drones were used to survey the animals in three different sections of the park
Meanwhile, the exercise, which took place in 84 compartments of the national park, involved 50 elephants, 64 enumerators, 12 independent observers, 49 media observers, and 252 front-line forest personnel.
However, the poaching of endangered animals has decreased significantly in the last few years as a result of increased conservation efforts in the KNPTR.
In 2021, there was only one poaching death in the park, the lowest number in 21 years. Poachers killed one rhino in the park in January of this year.
Poaching of One-horned Rhino in previous years
Official figures show that Assam had 27 cases of poaching in both 2013 and 2014.
In 2015, the number of cases dropped to 17, and 18 cases were reported the following year.
In 2017 (6) and 2018 (7), the numbers dropped to single digits.
From 2019, the number of cases has steadily decreased, with three cases in 2019, two in 2020, and one in 2021.
Other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in the state also conducted rhino censuses
The number of one-horned rhinos in Orang National Park increased by 24 from 101 in 2018 to 125 now, while the number of One-horned rhinos in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary increased by 5 from 102 in 2018 to 107 in 2022.
Moreover, on April 1, a rhino census in Manas national park will begin.
“Our BJP government has succeeded in protecting the pride of Assam, the one-horned rhinos. The latest census data shows an impressive increase in the number of rhinos in Kaziranga. We shall continue to carry forward this legacy more firmly under the guidance of Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma in the coming days,” Assam forest minister Parimal Suklabaidya tweeted.
“The latest figures are definitely an encouraging sign for the conservation of rhinos in Kaziranga. This time, the census was more detailed than the previous ones, and therefore the numbers are more detailed. The figures reflect the efforts put in Kaziranga not just in the past few years but work done in the previous 30-40 years,” said Rathin Barman, joint director of the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), who has till now participated in seven rhino censuses in the park.
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