Translocation of wild Rhinos carried out in Manas National Park, Assam.

The rhinos stepping into Manas territory

A year-long process of procuring tranquilizing drugs, radio-collars and other equipment and many meetings at various levels finally had its success during the end of December 2010. Two female Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) – a mother and a juvenile, were translocated to Manas National Park today from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam, under the aegis of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) programme. A specially trained team released the two rhinos in the Basbari range in the central part of the Manas NP. These were captured through chemical immobilization in Pobitora on 28 December 2010 and transported in specially designed crates in two different trucks to Manas, under strict security and veterinary assistance. They will be observed very closely for the next few months. The Indian rhinoceros is currently listed as a vulnerable species by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN). 

The IRV 2020 is a joint programme of the Department of Environment and Forests – Government of Assam, WWF-India and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) with support from the Bodoland Territorial Council, US Fish and Wildlife Service and the local communities. The programme’s vision is to increase Assam’s rhino population to 3000 by 2020, which will be done by wild-to-wild translocation from Kaziranga National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to Manas and Dibru Saikhowa National Parks as well as Laokhowa and Burachopari Wildlife Sanctuaries. Assam accounts for the largest population of Indian rhinoceros. Though rhino numbers in the state have grown from 2000 in 2005 to over 2200 in 2009, more than 90% of these live in just one Protected Area, which is the Kaziranga National Park. The IRV 2020 programme aims to secure the long term survival of wild rhinos in Assam by expanding their distribution to reduce risks like disease, in-breeding depression and mass mortality.

The rhinos tranquilised in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary

Under this programme, the first phase of wild-to-wild translocations was carried out in April 2008 when two male rhinos were re-introduced into Manas National Park from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The current translocations that ended today started on 27 December and are a part of phase two of the translocations. During this second phase, a total of eighteen rhinos are proposed to be translocated from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaziranga National Park to Manas National Park in batches. During the current operations, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary was closed for visitors to ensure minimal disturbance to the rhinos. The entire operation was carried out under strict vigilance. Like the rhinos translocated earlier, the adult female has been fitted with a radio-collar, and along with the juvenile, it will be monitored continuously through the next year by the staff of Manas NP with support from WWF-India.

According to Mr. D. M. Singh (IFS), Chief Conservator of Forests - Wildlife, Government of Assam, who is also the Chief Operating Officer of the Rhino Translocation Core Committee, the tranquilisations were done by the capture team lead by Prof. K. K. Sarma, of the College of Veterinary Science, Khanapara. Other members of the capture team included Dr. Bijoy Dutta, Associate Professor of the College of Veterinary Science; Dr. M. L. Smith, Forest Veterinary Officer of Assam State Zoo and Dr. Anjan Talukdar of Aaranyak. The logistics team for the capture session at Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary was headed by Sri Utpal Bora (IFS), Divisional Forest Officer and included Dr. Pranab Bora, Landscape Coordinator of the WWF-India’s Kaziranga Karbi-Anglong Landscape. The captured rhinos were transported under the supervision of Mr. C. R. Bhobra (IFS), Deputy Director of Manas Tiger Reserve and the transportation team included Dr. Anupam Sarmah, Senior Coordinator of WWF-India’s North Bank and Kaziranga Karbi-Anglong Landscapes. Mr. Amit Sharma, Coordinator for Rhino Conservation of WWF-India was a part of the entire operation. WWF-India’s communications team documented the exercise. The Assam Police headed by Mr. R. M. Singh (IPS), Inspector General Police extended support by providing security to the entire operation. Local communities at both the sites supported this exercise.

Map showing location of the sites involved in translocation from 27 – 29 Dec 2010

WWF-India has been preparing the ground for this second phase of translocation since the past year and assisted the Department of Environment and Forests – Government of Assam. WWF-India’s field teams at Manas National Park have been monitoring the rhinos there and have been working with the Park authorities to increase security to ensure protection to the released rhinos. Local communities have also been WWF-India’s partners in the overall conservation efforts around Manas. WWF India has been supported in this effort by IRF, the WWF International AREAS programme and WWF US. .

IRV 2020 provides a roadmap for long term conservation of the Indian rhino in Assam, charted in June 2005 by the Government of Assam constituted Task Force for Translocation of Rhinos within Assam, commonly referred to as the Rhino Task Force. This body incorporates conservationists from diverse backgrounds, from both the government as well as non-governmental sectors.

According to Dr. Dipankar Ghose, Head, Eastern Himalayas Programme, WWF-India “The present rhino translocation is very important to initiate the next round of translocations in Assam. It has strengthened the confidence of all teams involved. Given the excellent support received from the state Forest Department and the administration, this is also a landmark achievement for active management of species involving different stakeholders".

Inputs from : wwfindia.org

Assam has declared war on wildlife poachers by enacting stronger punishments , but will that be enough ?

Assam has announced the passage of the country’s strongest penalties for killing rhinos, elephants, and tigers. Assam received permission from India’s federal government to amend the 1972 Wildlife Protection Act and can now sentence poachers to ten years in prison.

Throughout the rest of India, the Act provides for three to seven years in prison for poaching. The state has also increased fines for killing the three iconic species. Poachers in Assam now face financial penalties that are five times higher than anywhere else in the country: 50,000 rupees (USD $1,125).

Assam forest minister Rockybul Hussain said that his team is extremely serious about combating illegal wildlife trade.

" We mean business in getting at poaching gangs."

Mr. Hussain added that the state is also creating a Forest Protection Force, which will be trained by police and armed with modern weaponry.

The new legislation was passed in response to the killing of at least nine greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park. The Park is home to approximately 2,048 of the world’s 2,850 or so greater one-horned rhinos, making it the world’s largest concentration of this species.

Earlier this year, 250 forest guards received training in commando operations by Assam’s elite National Security Guard (NSG), including use of sophisticated weaponry and martial arts.

Rhino poaching gangs

Rhino poaching gangs operating in Orang and Kaziranga National Parks are usually from the notorious illegal wildlife trading hub of Dimapur, Nagaland. They are often from the Karbi Anglong area as well.

No medicinal value in rhino horn

Today, the consumer markets for illegal rhino horn are concentrated in China and Vietnam, where rhino horn is still considered a key ingredient in traditional medicines.

However, the notion of rhino horn’s “healing properties” is nothing more than a persistent cultural myth. Rhino horn has been extensively analyzed and the truth is that is has no medicinal value whatsoever.

Recently, Forest guards in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park managed to shoot and kill two rhino poachers during a gun battle inside the Agaratoli range of the Park.

A blood-stained rhino horn was also recovered from one of the poacher’s bags, along with a .303 rifle, a .22 pistol, ammunition, and foodstuffs. Authorities believe that the rhino was killed Monday night or Tuesday morning, although the carcass has not yet been located.

According to The Telegraph, Kaziranga forest guards intensified patrolling activities after receiving information that a gang of rhino poachers had entered the Park. The guards came upon four rhino poachers early Tuesday morning, who fired on the guards when asked to surrender.

" We came almost face to face with them early this morning. And when we asked them to surrender they challenged us by opening fire. One of my colleagues had a narrow escape when a bullet fired by them zipped passed his ears."

The rhino killers and forest guards exchanged nearly 14 rounds.

Last month, ten rhino killers surrendered to authorities in Assam.

Difficulties in controlling the poaching

• Floods which create havoc for animals as well as for the forest guards to keep vigil. Flood causes many animals to migrate outside the park where they are susceptible to hunting . However with the help of the Indian Army removal of water hyacinth and close collaboration with other civil departments are some of the measures taken. But absence of adequate high grounds within the park as places of refuge for the animals during high floods adds to mismanagement on the part of the park authorities.

• The 54 km length of the NH-37 runs almost parallel to the southern boundary of Kaziranga National Park between Bokakhat and Ghorakati. During the monsoon the area inside the park gets flooded and the wild animals cross this highway to move towards the elevated Karbi Anglong hills. In this process many animals are killed by fast and heavy vehicular traffic moving on it almost round the clock.In spite of construction of several corridors and other steps including construction of road signage, terrain easements, rumble strips, road awareness campaigns, intensive night patrolling and regulation of vehicular traffic to mitigate the number of death of wildlife does not seems to be foolproof and effective.

• There is a lack of trained staffs in the park and as of 2005, 127 of the 592 sanctioned posts lay vacant Moreover since the area of the park has almost doubled (through additions) the staff strength would need to be further increased to undertake anti-poaching measures, conservation of wildlife and other allied activities.The park also faces shortage of funds for developmental works.

• About 184 villages and 4 tea gardens are situated within the influence area of the park; as a result of the acute poverty present among its residence, the villages often enter the park for illegal fishing and for firewood. Threat from overgrazing by the domestic livestock is ever present. During the dry season there is an acute shortage of fodder and the villages often push their livestock into the park for fodder which affects the amount of food available to the huge number of herbivorous animal living in the park. Such infiltration of domestic cattle increases the risk of spread of diseases among the wild animals as most of the cattle are not properly immunized. There is also a risk of losing genetic distinctness among the wild buffaloes due to entry of domestic buffaloes.Indiscriminate use of pesticides in the tea gardens close to the park boundaries also pose a threat through pesticide run-off. The tea gardens are also considered to be a source of invasive species like Mimosa and Wildrose.

After all its we the people should understand the value of wildlife, because if we try - can make some difference. Paper work can be done by anyone & at anytime , but its the implementation that lacks behind.

Educate to Eradicate .. Be a responsible citizen towards the society. A country progresses only by the people, for the people & of the people.

- Data Source : Anonymous

China dam to hit India, says Canadian lensman

                       Satellite Map shows the ongoing construction of Dam.

Notwithstanding China’s assurances on Brahmaputra river, the Zangmu Dam may eventually impact flow of water into India, as the dam is half wayacross the Yarlung Tsangpo river.

This was revealed by Michael Buckley, a Canada-based writer and photographer, who researched on the dams across the Tibetan Autonomous Region and made a film Meltdown in Tibet. Buckley, who has travelled extensively in TAR, screened his award winning film at Foreign Correspondents’ Club of South Asia here on Friday.

However, Buckley was sceptical about the Chinese claim on diversion of Brahmaputra river, describing it as confusing, because Dam is already half way across the river.

Zangmu Dam, is an under construction large dam, on the mid-reaches of the Tsangpo located in a gorge about140 km southeast of Lhasa, at an altitude of 3,260 metres. Zangmu Dam is expected to generate 540 MW of electricity.

Its height is estimated at 116 metres and length 390 metres. Zangmu is the first dam in a series of five planned for the same region, in Shannan Prefecture. The five dams are Zangmu, Gyatsa, Zhongda, Jiexu and Langzhen.

As reported, China has said that it has always taken a responsible attitude towards trans-border rivers.

Foreign Minister of China has clarified that the construction at Zangmu, on the main Yarlung Zangpo (Brahmaputra) river, is that of a small power project, which would not store or regulate the volume of water, and therefore, would not have an adverse impact on the downstream areas, Minister of State for External Affairs Preneet Kaur had said in a Rajya Sabha reply.

On Friday Foreign Secretary Nirupama Rao had told a seminar at Observer Research Foundation (ORF) that India is alert to reports of China damming trans-border rivers and sought assurances from China that it will take no action to negatively impact flow of the rivers into India.

“China has assured us that the projects on Brahmaputra are on the run-of-the-river projects and are not meant for storing or diverting water. We look forward to working closely with China in the critical area of environmental and livelihood security,” she said.

But Buckley doubts China’s words, pointing out that Beijing is planning mother of all dams the 38,000 MW Motuo Dam on Tsangpo. For one, the dam is located in Metog region and sits right in an earthquake-prone zone.

Plans are for a massive dam at the Great Bend of the Tsangpo identified as Motuo, with a staggering capacity of 38,000 MW, roughly double the capacity of the Three Gorges Dam.

Blocking the Yarlung Tsangpo could devastate the fragile eco-system of the Tibetanplateau, and would withhold the river’s sediments to the fertile floodplains of Assam and Bangladesh, he quoted experts as having observed.

Buckley said construction of these dams on rivers flowing into India and then on to Bangladesh would automatically lead to diversion of water and hit the two lower riparian countries.

Fortunately though, the Chinese engineers have postponed the Motuo Dam Project, still on the drawing stage because of incessant rains in the area. They were not able to build a dam because of rains, said Buckley.

Buckley’s 40-minute film shot on breath-taking locations in Tibet, has shots of under construction dams using his small camcorder. He travelled to the region as a tourist hiding his identity. He travelled to remote locations tracing the tightly guardedconstruction activities by road and also kayaking on fast flowing rivers in and around the dam sites.

China is building dams like there’s no tomorrow. Over 23,000 large dams are under operation in China today. There are at least 11,000 more large dams in South Asia, including over 4,500 large dams in India. That brings the total of large dams in China and South Asia to over 34,000, which roughly translate into 70 per cent of the world’s large dams.

Both China and India are forging ahead with building of large dams. Both nations appear to be oblivious of the climate change threat—neither is adopting a more cautious approach to dam building in the Himalayan region. It does not make sense to build scores of large dams in a stark future, where there may be no flow of water due to major rivers drying up, Buckley observed.

- Inputs from : assamtribune.com

 http://on.fb.me/eMDHUp

Article Dated : Monday, December 6, 2010 at 9:47pm

Salute the Green Guard ; Pobitora Range Officer makes us proud ..

Mukul Tamuly, the Range Officer of Pobitora wildlife sanctuary who was honoured with the NDTV-Toyota Green Guard National Award-2010 in New Delhi on Tuesday attributed the successful conservation saga of Pobitora to a participatory model involving local support and cooperation.

Pobitora, a tiny sanctuary (38.81 sq km) having the country’s second highest rhino population with a count of 84, has not witnessed a single incident of poaching since 2005.

“I am very happy to have received the award but the real credit for this goes to Pobitora’s field staff, the fringe villagers, and the NGOs working in the area. This has been a teamwork and a recognition of our combined efforts,” an elated Tamuly told The AssamTribune.

According to Tamuly, the conservation model involving forest staff and fringe inhabitants was working wonderfully for Pobitora, which is virtually an island surrounded by human settlements on all sides.

“The local people have taken keen interest in Pobitora, which augurs well for its long-term conservation prospects. That it has been a successful joint endeavour comprising forest personnel and local people including NGOs should be evident from the fact that not a single incident of poaching took place in the sanctuary for over five years,” Tamuly said.

While Tamuly is too modest a man to give himself any credit, the award does recognise the fact that he has played a key role in garnering and mobilising the people’s support and cooperation in ensuring that Pobitora thrives with an enviable rhino population.

“I have been engaged with the wildlife wing of the Forest Department for 14 years and I can say with conviction that a participatory model is always to the advantage ofsecuring conservation goals,” he said.

The success story notwithstanding, Pobitora is not entirely without its share of problems – the most pressing being the grazing of cattle inside the sanctuary.

“Grazing is a serious problem and unless addressed in a holistic manner, could pose a grave threat to Pobitora’s long-term well-being. We are having interactions with the local people and a committee has been formed to sensitize the fringe villagers against grazing,” Tamuly said, adding that straying rhinos was another irritant.

The Ranger said that 18 poachers were made to surrender with support of the villagers a few years back and now the reformed poachers were lending a helping to the forestauthorities in tackling forest and wildlife crimes.

On the tourism front too, Pobitora now ranks among the State’s top wildlife destinations with more and more visitors, including many from abroad, flocking the sanctuary every year.

“Pobitora has emerged as a major destination in the past few years, which is also adding substantially to the State’s exchequer. The revenue generation which was around Rs 50,000 in 2005 has jumped to about Rs 15 lakh now. Infrastructure-wise also, the sanctuary has developed a lot,” Tamuly said.

- Inputs from : assamtribune.com

Project BUG exuberantly congratulates Mr. Mukul Tamuly, the Range Officer of Pobitora wildlife sanctuary for his wonderful contribution to the nature & enviroment of Assam and thus winning the prestigious NDTV - TOYOTA Green Guard National Award-2010.

Save Rhino .. Save Our Pride !

Kaziranga National Park , which houses two thirds of the world’s one –horned rhino population is under is under tremendous threat from poachers with the increased demand of rhino horns in the international markets for its supposed medicinal properties and in order to control the government has decided to create Assam Forest protection Force exclusively to be deployed in the 430 Sq.km national park and also to take up with the user countries to take action against its illegal use. Pranab Kumar Das Reports : Between October and Feb,04th this year at least half a dozen of rhinos have been poached from the national park and park authorities say it is impossible to guard the entire stretch of the of the park as poachers are always on the lookout for a fresh kill and a warlike situation prevails with the forest trying check the entry of the poachers to the park which is wide open.


The park at present houses 2,048 rhinos , the highest in the world and also has the highest population of Swamp deer and Wild Buffalos in the world apart from the other species . Officials involved in the anti poaching operations say that poaching of rhinos say that after the operations , the poachers move to the neighboring states and finally smuggle it outside the country and other states should also play an effective role to control poaching.


Poaching has increased in the recent months for its huge demand in South Asia as the horn composed of keratin fiber is believed to have aphrodisiac value and can fetch up to Rs.1.5 million per kg in the international markets which are smuggled to South Asian countries through Moreh border in Manipur.