With the new Government under the leadership of Narendra Modi all set to take charge next week, one of Assam’s prominent nature conservation organisations has sought for immediate attention to stop unabated killing of rhinos and other wildlife crimes across the State.
The forest and wildlife conservation NGO Nature’s Beckon has also revived its demand for having a forensic probe into the rhino horns, elephant tusks and other animal parts kept in the custody of the forest department to ascertain their genuineness as well as to ensure that those have not been replaced by fake ones.
“The present Congress-led Government in Assam and the UPA Government at the Centre had failed miserably to address the issues of rhino poaching. The one-horned rhinos, which are the identity of Assam have been killed unabated and the Government is a mute spectator,” said Soumyadeep Datta of the Nature’s Beckon, while adding that 20 rhinos have already been killed in Assam this year, including 18 in highly secured Kaziranga National Park.
The NGO has also demanded a CBI probe into all incidents of wildlife crimes in Assam as they believe that there is involvement of a section of forest department officials in the wildlife crimes including the poaching of rhinos.
“We have serious doubts. We have sought some information about the number of rhino horns kept with the forest department. However, the figure did not tally with the figure of the rhinos which died a natural death in the national parks and sanctuaries of Assam,” he said, adding that a large number of rhino horns kept in the custody of forest department might have been replaced with fake ones and the originals sold in the international market.
“The department had once decided to burn the horns kept in its custody. However, several NGOs including us demanded the department to first ascertain the genuineness of the horns by conducting forensic examinations. Although the department did not go ahead with the idea of burning the horns, they did not go for forensic tests either. We do not understand why the department does not go for a forensic test of all the horns and other animal parts,” said Dutta.
“The People of Assam have gifted Modi with seven seats out of the total 14 lok Sabha seats in Assam this time. The BJP’s prime ministerial candidate had also assured to look into the matter of rhino poaching during electioneering here. We hope he would take up the matter immediately after assuming the charge of office on Monday,” said Dutta.It may be mentioned here that the Assam Government have claimed to have taken several measures to stop rhino poaching in Assam. While some of the measures have already been implemented some are on the pipeline.
The Assam Government had last year created a force Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) and armed its cadre with AK-47 rifles to stop wildlife crimes and to stop rhino poaching. The department had also been constructing electronic eye in the park to detect any unwanted movement and report it immediately, which is expecting completion by end of this year.
The poaching is, however, on forcing even the Gauhati High Court to ask the Kaziranga officials to prepare a plan on protection of rhinos.