We all know for a fact that more than 85 percent of the rhinoceros population in India is found in the state of Assam. But there have also been many cases of rampant rhino poaching in the state. But the latest report informs us that for the first time in 45 years, no rhinos were poached in Assam. Miraculously true! Assam actually recorded zero poaching of the endangered one-horned rhinos in 2022.
No Rhinos Were Poached In 2022
The Chief Minister of Assam, Himanta Biswa Sarma, announced on his Twitter handle that no rhino poaching took place in Kaziranga, Orang, and Manas National Parks. Even Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary recorded no poaching cases in 2022. He wrote about how the gentle giant of India is safe in Assam and called it a landmark for sure. The officials wholeheartedly credited the collective efforts of Assam’s forest and police departments.
Between 2000 and 2021, about 191 rhinos were poached in the state. Both 2013 and 2014 saw 27 rhino deaths each. Two rhinos were killed in 2020 and 2021. The last time no poaching of rhinos was reported was in 1977. G. P. Singh, special director general of police (law and order), said that when CM Biswa took over the office, his main focus was on the poaching of rhinos.
Zero Poaching!
2022 was really special for our rhino conservation efforts. Not a single rhino being poached in 2022 & just 2 in 2021, the gentle giant is now much safer in Assam.
Kudos to @assamforest dept & @assampolice for their sincere efforts to protect the iconic animal. pic.twitter.com/mVIHsD0xFe
— Himanta Biswa Sarma (@himantabiswa) January 2, 2023
Also Read: Dehing Patkai Festival: All You Need To Know About Assam’s Cultural Fest In 2023
Special Task Force And Coordinated Efforts
To accomplish this anti-rhino poaching mission, a special task force was created in 2021 and was headed by G.P. Singh. The task force included 22 senior police and forest department officials. This included MK Yadava, who is the chief wildlife warden. The task force was formed to coordinate the efforts of both departments on the mission.
Yadava said that the biggest advantage of this combination is that they have the intelligence of both departments to help them track the activities of the poachers and act against them. The task force very smartly collected information from all the past poaching activities and made a plan. They marked all the entry and exit points used, as well as when, how, and where the poaching happened. They increased patrolling on full moon days, when most of the poachers attack the rhinos.
The Chief Minister promised to keep the graph flat with the intelligence and coordination of the task forces and others.
That is such an amazing news, isn’t it? Let us know your views below.
Cover Image Courtesy: Wikimedia commons