 Reference Base  The importance of park budgets, intelligence networks and... |
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Martin, E.B., 1996. The importance of park budgets, intelligence networks and competent management for succesful conservation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros. Pachyderm 22: 10-17, figs. 1-4, tables 1-2
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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From 1990 to 1995, Manas lost most of its rhinos. The main reasons are serious political disturbances in the area, a lack of adequate funding and manpower, and security problems.
First, continuing since the late 1980s, there has been a break down in law and order, until very recently, due to the political disputes. As a result, many rhinos were poached. For example, in March 1993 one gang leader from the Bodo tribe organised the killing of at least 13 rhinos. The man lived only a few kilometres from the area headquarters of Bansbari in the village of Khabsinpara. From 1990 to the end of 1993, perhaps just over half of the estimated 90 rhinos had been killed. In 1994 at least four more were killed in the central Bansbari range. Bhuyanpara (the eastern range) and Panbari (the western range) were rarely patrolled from 1989 onwards due to the fear of Bodo terrorists hiding in the forests. It is likely that virtually all the rhinos in these two areas had been eliminated by 1994. There is information on only one poaching gang operating in 1994. This gang of four from Nalbari District, all armed with rifles, shot a rhino and cut off its hom which weighed about 625 grs. It was bought by a man from Guwahati for the equivalent of $2.555 a kilo. In 1995 up to early November, another rhino was known to have been shot in the Bansbari range.
Two females with calves were seen in the Bansbari range in 1995 and its range officer believes that perhaps 20 remain in the entire Park.
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