 Reference Base  The greater one-horned rhino of Assam is threatened by po... |
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Poaching |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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According to the former Range Officer of Orang, B.N. Talukdar, from 1978 to 1992 93% of Orang's poached rhinos were killed inside rather than outside the Sanctuary. Hardly any rhinos wander outside, despite its small size, because there is no overgrazing in the Sanctuary. Rhinos are not poached by electrocution in Orang as there are no power lines. There are, however, incidents of pit poaching in the dry season. Pit trapping for rhinos began in late 1984, and in that year and 1985 12 rhinos were caught in this way (Martin et al., 1987). Three types of pits are dug: a 1.8 metre rectangular one into which the rhino falls and breaks its neck; a similar hole with an hour-glassshaped cross-section in which the rhino is suspended above the base of the hole and may not be killed; and one with a v-shaped cross-section with pointed bamboo poles dug into the bottom which sink into the rhino's stomach. The poachers camp near the pits and check them every night and morning until a rhino is caught (Talukdar, pers. comm.). Most rhinos are killed by poachers using guns. The organizer usually provides a gang of four or five with firearms. In 1992 such a gang received from the organizer $171 to $514 per person for one horn.
From 1982 to 1985 poaching was serious in Orang, with 20 rhinos illegally killed. More staff and equipment, including a jeep, were consequently put into the Sanctuary, and the road system was improved. Thus, poaching declined. There are now 80 field staff in Orang with 37 guns (mainly .303 rifles), plus 35 casual labourers, 20 armed Home Guards and 14 domesticated elephants for patrol work and tourist rides. From 1988 to 1991, the Range Officer spent an average of $340 a year on an intelligence network, but in 1992 it was stopped due to lack of funds; he believes that $645 a year is now needed to be effective. Useful poaching deterrents in the meantime are the five wild rogue elephants in Orang. From 1987 to 1992, one of them killed 18 people (16 of them women), all outside the Sanctuary. As a result, Orang has very few human trespassers and thus cattle are not brought in to graze. Only four rhinos have been poached from 1990 to the end of 1993.
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