After successful re-introduction of famous one-horned rhinos in the Manas National Park, the Assam Forest department in association with the WWF-India and International Rhino Foundation are now planning to translocate the first batch of rhinos to the contiguous laokhowa and Burhachapori wildlife sanctuaries.
The much ambitious plan is as part of the India Rhino Vision (IRV)-2020, which seeks to increase the State’s rhino population to 3,000 by the year 2020.
“The initial ground work has been completed and we are going to move the first batch of rhinos very soon to laokhowa and Burhachapori wildlife sanctuaries,” a senior Forest department official told The Pioneer. However, date in this regard is yet to be confirmed, he added.
The official also said that security assessment of the laokhowa-Burhachapori has been made and the report is awaited. Ground-level preparations are also on to ensure that the translocated rhinos feel at home in their new habitat.
A total of 18 rhinos have already been relocated to Manas National Park from Kaziranga and Pobitora wildlife sanctuary under IRV. The laokhowa-Burhachapori is the next destination for the next phase of translocation.
“While the first batch of rhinos will be moved this year, a total of 10 rhinos will be taken to the laokhowa-Burhachapori by the end of 2014 under the IRV 2020 project,” the official said.
It may be mentioned here that according to a census carried out in March this year, there are a total of 2,329 rhinos inside the Kaziranga National Park. The last census of the rhinos carried out in the park in April last year traced 2,290 one-horned rhinos inside the park.