 Reference Base  The current state of rhino in Assam and threats in the 21... |
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Talukdar, B.K., 2000. The current state of rhino in Assam and threats in the 21st century. Pachyderm 29: 39-47, fig. 1, photos 1-5, tables 1-6
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is one of the most successful stories of conservation of Rhinoceros unicornis in the world. From a population of a mere dozen rhinos in 1908, when the Kaziranga was declared a forest reserve, the population has grown to 1500 over 90 years of conservation. The rhino census conducted in Kaziranga in April 1999 recorded a population of 1552 compared with 1164 in 1993. The population figures by block that were recorded during the 1999 census are summarized in table 4.
The park (fig.1) is situated on the floodplains of the river Brahmaputra. The terrain is flat, with a gentle slope running down from east to west. The soil is rich in alluvial deposit that the annual floods lay down. Park location on the floodplain eases the task of demarcating blocks for the rhino census. The census used the direct visual total count method. It was conducted over two days, 8 and 9 April 1999, because it was not possible to cover the entire area in a single day. The park was divided into eight major blocks, as listed in table 4. These blocks were further divided into compartments: the Baguri block into 12 compartments, the Bhawani, Charighoria, Haldibari, Kaziranga, Panbari, Tamulipathar blocks into 5 each, and the Boralimora block into 3, totaling 45 compartments in the eight blocks within the 429.3 kmy of KNP. Eight more areas were included in the census: the first addition to KNP, Burapahar, with an area of 43.70 krn 2 ; the second addition, Sildubi, 47 km'; the third addition, Panbari, 0.69 kmy ; the fourth addition, Kanchanjuri, 0.89 kmy ; the fifth addition, 1.15 km; the sixth addition, the shore areas of Brahmaputra, 376.05 kmy ; the Panbari Reserved Forest, 5.08 kmy ; and the Moriahola area in the northern part of KNP, 5.00 kmy
The census of 25 compartments was completed on the first day, 8 April; it included the first, second, third, fourth and fifth additions to KNP and the Panbari Reserved Forest. The remaining 20 compartments, the sixth addition and the Moriahola area were covered on the second day, 9 April. River Diffalu, which bisects the national park roughly into half, was taken as the dividing line for each day's count. The rhinos south of the river, including those in the addition areas, were counted on the day 1, and those north of the river were counted on day 2. Since the river is deep, with well-defined high banks, the chance of rhino crossing it on any one day was considered almost negligible.
The tall grass in KNP is burned every year as a management practice. In 1999, to assure a clear view for sighting the rhino, the grassland was burned before the April census was taken. After completing the pilot field survey, the Forest Department prepared a map of each compartment showing such features as the wetlands ('heels'), channels ('nallahs'), roads and patrolling paths. The starting point and the end point for the census in each compartment were clearly shown to avoid any confusion the enumerators might have in identifying their respective areas of census. Each enumeration party consisted of one enumerator in charge of the party; one assistant enumerator, usually from the media or an NGO; one guide, usually a forester or a forest guard with thorough knowledge of the area; and a mahut with an elephant. The park has four rangers.
The rhino population as recorded in the 1999 rhino census operation is shown in table 5.
Rhinos in KNP die from natural causes or poaching. The natural deaths come from floods, predation, old age or disease. Death by poaching comes from gunshot, pit poaching, electrocution or poisoning. The total death of rhinos in KNP in six years, between January 1993 and December 1998, stands at 462; 335 animals died of natural causes and 127 died from poaching. That means an Ivcrage of 56 rhinos died a natural death each year during the six-year period of 1993 to 1996 and 21 died from poaching. Thus the average net annual mortality from 1993 until 1998 is 4.1 1 % from natural death and 1.55% from poaching.
From January 1998 to September 2000, poachers killed 16 rhinos (table 6), but a fairly large number of poachers have been arrested or killed and firearms and ammunition seized. Tn 1999, poachers killed only 4 rhinos, which is an all-time low for the history of Kaziranga since it became a national park in 1974.
Flood is another threat to the rhino population, especially the calves. In the devastating flood of 1998 about 39 rhinos were drowned in KNP, of which 18 were adult, 5 subadult and 16 calves. In the 1988 flood also, 38 rhinos were drowned of which 9 were adult, 10 subadult and 19 calves. Some of the KNP rhinos were found migrating to the adjoining hills of Karbi- Anglong through certain paths, but most of the rhinos remained inside the park. They were found taking shelter on the high land within the park in the flood of 1998. After the flood of 1998, the Forest Department and the Indian Army constructed more highlands to reduce the loss of wildlife, particularly the rhinos, because of high floods. It is hoped that in future floods the newly constructed highlands will offer some relief to the wildlife.
Table 4. Rhino population at Kaziranga National Park during the 1999 census, by block
Block Area Adult Sub-adult Calf Total
kmy Male Fem Unsex male Fem Unsex
Baguri 74.30 224 212 5 31 34 18 120 684
Bhawani 72.90 45 41 13 3 7 2 21 132
Boralimora 31.00 7 12 3 1 1 - 8 32
Charighoria 55.50 29 28 4 3 1 1 11 77
Haidibari 48.00 88 121 3 6 9 13 44 284
Kaziranga 44.70 37 50 10 - 1 12 20 130
Panbari 51.50 42 26 10 2 4 8 13 105
Tamulipathar 51.40 26 26 8 3 1 3 13 80
Total 429.30 498 516 96 49 58 57 250 1524
Addition area 479.56 9 12 - - - - 7 28
Grand total 908.86 507 528 96 49 58 57 257 1552
Table 5. Rhino population in Kaziranga National Park as recorded during the 1999 census
Range Block Rhino
no. %
Western Range Baguri 684
(Banguri) Bhawani (part) 53 47.55
4th addition area 1
Total 738
Central Range Bhawani (part) 79
(Kohora) Charighoria 77 44.27
Haldibari 284
Kaziranga 130
Panbari 105
2nd addition area 12
Total 687
Eastern Range Boralimora 32
(Agoratoli) Tamulipathar 80 7.22
Total 112
Burapahar Range 1 st addition area 9
6th addition area 5 0.90
Total 14
Bokakhat Beat Moriahola 1 0.06
Grand total 1552 100.00
Table 6. Details of rhino poaching and encounters in Kaziranga National Park, January 1998 to September 2000
Year Rhino Poachers Poachers Arms Ammunition
poached killed arrested recovered recovered
1998 8 3 2 2 435
1999 4 2 18 5 0
2000 4 0 15 na na
End.
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