Kaziranga National Park, located in North Eastern part of India besides the mighty Brahmaputra is the home for the largest population of Asiatic one horn rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis). Visitors from all parts of the globe visit this park to see its one horned rhinos. But illigal poaching of rhinos is increasing her in an alarming rate in the recent tears here.
Failing to cope up with the increasing poaching activities , the govt of Assam has sought opinion from general public to trim horns of rhinos.
The govt have issued an official notification asking for comments which must reach the forest department before March 30.
But, is trimming the last alternative left.Govt officials have said that they have adopted this measure from African countries where trimmimg is done to save the rhnos from the illigal poachers.
But they can also adopt he steps taken by Govt of Nepal where not even a single illigal poaching of rhino happened in last two years. On March 3,2014 the Himalayan country of Nepal celebrated 365 days without a single case of rhino, elephant or tiger poaching. This is the second time that the country marked such a milestone after 2011.Nepal has the second largest population of one horned asiatic rhinos
after India.If the small himalayan nation can take effective measures to save the rhinos, why cant India learn from its neighbour. According to the BBC, about 37 rhinos were killed by poachers in Nepal in 2002, triggering grave concern worldwide. Their population dropped from an estimated 612 in 2000 to less than 375 in 2005.Numbers have increased to more than 500 in the last eight years, since the series of anti-poaching measures were put in place by authorities.
The success represents integrated and sustained efforts, including intensive patrolling by rangers and the Nepal Army within protected areas; support from local community-based anti-poaching units; and enforcement agencies like the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police pooling information and resources, all in an effort to reduce wildlife crime.
According to govt officials, "The trimmed horns will grow back to their original size in four to five months again. There will be no damage to internal organs of the animals.Trimming will be done in the areas of the park where the population is very low."
But still, the question that arises now is that" Will this process be effective?"
More over, the horn is a valuable asset of a rhino. It uses its horn for self defense, protecting its young ones, maternal care and many other activities.
With its help, they also select mates for breeding. So removing the horn will be detrimental to the rhino population. In addition, dehorning is incredibly costly, due the effort of finding the animals and the costs associated with the immobilisation process, especially if needed on a recurrent basis.(10-15 months) The actual cost depends on several factors, but current published estimates for dehorning range from US $600 per animal to US$1,000.
This huge amount can be used for effective security measures, because the forest guards of Kaziranga National Park are equipped with lowest standard security equipment's where as the poachers come with latest AK series rifles and all modern gadgets and tools.
The issue of dehorning leads on to another ‘thorny issue’ – what should be done with the horns? These could be destroyed; however they are more likely to be stockpiled by owners awaiting the potential legalisation of the trade.
A first priority for all rhino conservationists should be to ensure adequate anti-poaching monitoring and security (including intelligence-gathering) to protect rhino populations, and only then should dehorning be considered, for is a rhino really a rhino without its horn?
Failing to cope up with the increasing poaching activities , the govt of Assam has sought opinion from general public to trim horns of rhinos.
The govt have issued an official notification asking for comments which must reach the forest department before March 30.
But, is trimming the last alternative left.Govt officials have said that they have adopted this measure from African countries where trimmimg is done to save the rhnos from the illigal poachers.
But they can also adopt he steps taken by Govt of Nepal where not even a single illigal poaching of rhino happened in last two years. On March 3,2014 the Himalayan country of Nepal celebrated 365 days without a single case of rhino, elephant or tiger poaching. This is the second time that the country marked such a milestone after 2011.Nepal has the second largest population of one horned asiatic rhinos
after India.If the small himalayan nation can take effective measures to save the rhinos, why cant India learn from its neighbour. According to the BBC, about 37 rhinos were killed by poachers in Nepal in 2002, triggering grave concern worldwide. Their population dropped from an estimated 612 in 2000 to less than 375 in 2005.Numbers have increased to more than 500 in the last eight years, since the series of anti-poaching measures were put in place by authorities.
The success represents integrated and sustained efforts, including intensive patrolling by rangers and the Nepal Army within protected areas; support from local community-based anti-poaching units; and enforcement agencies like the Central Investigation Bureau of Nepal Police pooling information and resources, all in an effort to reduce wildlife crime.
According to govt officials, "The trimmed horns will grow back to their original size in four to five months again. There will be no damage to internal organs of the animals.Trimming will be done in the areas of the park where the population is very low."
But still, the question that arises now is that" Will this process be effective?"
More over, the horn is a valuable asset of a rhino. It uses its horn for self defense, protecting its young ones, maternal care and many other activities.
With its help, they also select mates for breeding. So removing the horn will be detrimental to the rhino population. In addition, dehorning is incredibly costly, due the effort of finding the animals and the costs associated with the immobilisation process, especially if needed on a recurrent basis.(10-15 months) The actual cost depends on several factors, but current published estimates for dehorning range from US $600 per animal to US$1,000.
This huge amount can be used for effective security measures, because the forest guards of Kaziranga National Park are equipped with lowest standard security equipment's where as the poachers come with latest AK series rifles and all modern gadgets and tools.
The issue of dehorning leads on to another ‘thorny issue’ – what should be done with the horns? These could be destroyed; however they are more likely to be stockpiled by owners awaiting the potential legalisation of the trade.
Thanks for the information on Horns of Rhinos of Kaziranga National Park.
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Assam's most famous parks are Kaziranga and Manas. Both were conferred Worl Heritage Status in 1985. Kaziranga National Park is solitary among the foremost national parks in the earth and also famous as the pleasure of the North East India. Tourist across the seas comes here to visit the amazing location and prefer Wildlife Resorts in Kaziranga.
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