Thaindian News

Guwahati, March 20 (IANS) The population of the famous one-horned rhinos in Assam is increasing, according to the census of the animals’ population in the state, wildlife officials said Tuesday.

The census which came to an end at the Pabitora wildlife sanctuary in Morigaon district Tuesday recorded 93 rhinos. Similarly, 100 rhinos were found in the Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Orang in Darrang district.

In the last census carried out in 2009, there were 84 rhinos in Pabitora while there were only 64 rhinos in Orang.

The experts are now scheduled to carry out census of the rhino population in Kaziranga National Park in upper Assam March 26 and 27.

In 2009, there were 2,048 rhinos in Kaziranga National Park.

“So far we have completed the count in Rajiv Gandhi National Park in Orang and Pabitora Wildlife sanctuary in Pabitora. The growth rate is good and we are happy,” said a senior official engaged in the census operation.

It is expected that the number of rhinos in Kaziranga too will have increased, the official added.

The rhino census in different parks and sanctuaries were conducted in the supervision of the state’s Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) S.P. Singh. Besides other officials of the forest department, wildlife NGOs like WWF-India, WTI, Aaranyak, and Green Guard Nature Organisation also participated.

“We normally divide the park and wildlife sanctuary into certain blocks for the count. Each block were then given to one enumeration party comprising enumerator, guide, mahout and a departmental elephant,” said the official.

The census began at 5 a.m. simultaneously in all blocks and lasted till afternoon. All data received from all the blocks were compiled and analyzed by an expert team, which included senior Forest officials and the representatives of the NGOs.

“The rhino census will be completed on March 27 after the counting at Kaziranga National Park. We have kept two days for Kaziranga national Park as most of the rhino population is there only,” the official said.