World Rhino Day: Wildlife expert Bibhab Kumar Talukdar praises PM Modi for ‘visionary initiatives’ for conservation of greater one-horned rhino

Guwahati (Assam) [India], September 21 (ANI): On the eve of World Rhino Day 2024, internationally acclaimed wildlife expert Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar has praised Prime Minister Narendra Modi for his visionary initiatives for conservation and protection of greater one-horned rhinos in the country.

World Rhino Day is celebrated on 22 September every year by the World Wildlife Fund and other international organisations.

Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar told ANI that, in past few years the rhino poaching incidents in Assam have remarkably declined only because of the government’s efforts towards rhino conservation.

“The visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi to Kaziranga has reflected his commitment towards rhino conservation. I think that commitment is an acting positive tool in order to ensure rhino conservation and protection. We have long way to go this has to be sustained. The success gained in past few years because of a strong government commitments are not shattered non continuity this effort. I hope the success is being achieved and we will continue and hope to see that the rhino number in Assam will touch 3000 in next few years,” Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar said.

He further said that, the government’s zero tolerance policy against rhino poachers is very important, because the rhino poachers come with sophisticated weapons and the forest staff will have to fight with sophisticated weapons.

“The Assam government has modernized the forest protection force in order to fight with the intruders who intend to kill rhino. The illegal wildlife trade is the fourth highest illegal trade in the world after narcotics, human trafficking and arms. So, wildlife trafficking or illegal killing of rhino definitely may reach government attention. I appreciate the government’s action in the past and also in present and hope the men will be ever vigilant from the threat posed by illegal wildlife smugglers to kill our rhinos or any other species. Rhino is the epitome of conservation movement in Assam. Rhino is our state animal and we are proud of rhinos and our pride has to be secured and the government has to continue its leading role in order to ensure that the rhinos are safe and our future generation can see the rhinos in the wild,” Dr Talukdar said.

He also said that, Assam is an important site for greater one-horned rhino in India and Nepal.

“Over 120 years Assam has taken steps to increase the rhino population and also to increase its habitat. In recent years, the poaching has been declined quite a lot compared to 2013. In 2013 we had lost about 41 rhinos in Assam. But in past two years we lost two rhinos in Assam. It is a huge success and in 2022 there is no rhino poaching in Assam as reported by the Assam government,” he said.

“I think protection is very important for rhino in order to survive. In recent times the Assam government has taken up lots of initiatives to ensure protection of rhinos. The state government has strengthened the forest staff and we have also seen as active involvement of police and the police role is very important,” he added.

Dr Talukdar said that, the Assam Rhino Conservation was started in 1905 and during that time people thought that more than 50 or less than 100 rhinos in their habitant.

“Kaziranga is the first area which has been upgraded to a National Park in Assam. In 1966, Kaziranga was having 366 rhinos and today because of conservation effort in Kaziranga the rhino population has increased to over 2600. In Assam the rhino population is 2880 plus. So it is a remarkable increase in past 100 years. We also had few set back in terms of rhino conservation during 1980’s and 1990’s because of socio-political unrest. When the socio-political unrest is happened the rhino population has suffered during that period,” he said.

“Rhinos have been reintroduced in Manas National Park from Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, 22 rhinos were captured and released in Manas National Park, also captured 20 rhinos in Kaziranga and released in Manas and now the rhino population in Manas has touched almost 50. The Assam government has expanded the areas of Orang National Park, Laokhowa-Burachapori and Kaziranga and through riverine area from Kaziranga to Orang is now connected. 3 rhinos are now in Laokhowa-Burachapori. Now we have six barring areas in Assam – Kaziranga National Park, Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Manas National Park. The people of Assam need to support the efforts of the government and the government has to continue its efforts,” Dr Bibhab Kumar Talukdar said further.