Rhino carcass, skeleton found

Press Trust of India | Golaghat/Jorhat  May 11, 2013
A carcass and a skeleton of rhinos with their horns missing were recovered from two separate ranges of Kaziranga National Park today taking the toll of the poached herbivores to 24 this year.

The 4-5 day old decomposed female rhino body was recovered near Noloni forest camp of Agratoli range of the Park where four cartridge shells of AK-47 rifle were also found, forest officials said.

The skeleton of the male rhino killed about a month ago was recovered near Borakota forest camp in Bagori range, the officials said.

As both the horns of the rhinos were missing and bullets found near one of them, poachers were suspected to have killed the animals, they added.

Search operations have been launched for the killers, the sources added.

Source: http://www.business-standard.com/article/pti-stories/rhino-carcass-skeleton-found-113051100033_1.html

Kaziranga: Two forest guards injured in poachers' attack

Hemanta Kumar Nath | India Blooms News Service
Guwahati, May 5 (IBNS): Two forest guards were injured in attack by suspected poachers in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) on Sunday evening, officials said.

The jawans of Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) were attacked by suspected poachers near Kathalchang forest camp under Burhapahar forest range office inside the park.

“The jawans were attacked by the suspected poachers by using sophisticated weapons inside the world heritage site, when they were vigil inside the park,” an official of KNP said.

The injured forest guards were admitted to Nagaon Bhogeswari Phukanoni civil hospital.

Top officials of park authority and forest department had rushed to the area and launched serach operation to nab the attackers.

Poachers killed at least 19 one horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga in past four months.

To protect wild animals inside and outside the park, the Assam forest department had deployed 300 jawans of AFPF and recently test drive a drone in Kaziranga.

2329 rhinos were found in the national park in recent rhino census report.

Source: http://www.indiablooms.com/NewsDetailsPage/2013/newsDetails060513c.php

'Package deals' on internet for tockay geckos

GUWAHATI: Online shopping has acquired a whole new dimension thanks to illegal trading in the rare tockay gecko lizard. Now, interested buyers can purchase the Asian lizard, coveted for its reported medicinal properties, in 'bulk' on the internet and also secure 'package deals' for specimen of the protected species.

The demand of this reptile with sticky feet has shot up so much that illegal traders of geckos in the region are now expanding their business through the internet. Some gecko suppliers are even taking bulk orders through social networking sites and offering 'package deals'.

The city police have rescued at least four gecko lizards in recent times. These lizards were handed over to the Assam state zoo here. "We have arrested at least 12 illegal gecko traders from several areas of the city in the last couple of months. They are mostly from Manipur and Nagaland. They bring samples of geckos from their home states to show buyers from outside the state and even the country. Many agents working for markets in New Zealand too come here to pick up their supply of geckos. Most of these agents contact each other via the internet," said a senior police officer here.

At a time when the illegal trade in rhino horns is causing the pachyderm's population in the state to dwindle, wildlife criminals serving the medicine markets of Asia are now targeting the tokay gecko.

The demand for tokay gecko, a nocturnal Asian lizard growing up to 40cm in length and easily identified by its orange-spotted, blue-grey skin and unmistakable vocalization, is very high. The local name of the lizard is 'keko shap'.

Myths about the medicinal value of these creatures abound in South Asian and Southeast Asian countries, resulting in their high demand. However, wildlife experts say there is nothing to the claims. "The reason behind the high demand for this lizard is that many believe its reddish, spotted meat cures HIV/AIDS and even cancer. A gecko in good health, measuring between 12 and 14 inches and weighing around 200-250gm is sold at around Rs 8 to 20 lakh," a senior forest official said.

Wildlife activist Firoz Ahmed said, "We have been trying to tell people these geckos have no medicinal value. Rather, the reptile has tremendous ecological value. Some communities in countries like China, Malaysia, Indonesia and Japan believe that the gecko meat can heal deadly diseases like cancer and HIV."

The police officer added that the hunt for geckos in the hills of Tezpur in Sonitpur district and adjoining areas of Arunachal Pradesh has taken alarming proportions.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Package-deals-on-internet-for-tockay-geckos/articleshow/19640840.cms

Rhino killed in Kaziranga, horn chopped off

JORHAT: Kaziranga National Park lost another rhino to poachers on Friday. Poachers killed the rhino and chopped off its horn in the Agoratoli forest range of the park. Forest staff found the carcass at a place between Pahumari and Rongamotia anti-poaching camp in Agoratoli forest range.

Park officials said the rhino was killed by poachers a few days back. "We heard gunshots from the Pahumari anti-poaching camp area on Tuesday night. On hearing the sounds, a group of forest guards launched an operation, but the poachers managed to flee towards the hills of Karbi Anglong. No one has been arrested in the operation. Our staff also launched a search operation in the said areas, but no carcass was found on that night,'' said divisional forest officer (Kaziranga) Shil Sharma.

"We believe the rhino was killed on that night and poachers cut off its horn. But our staff failed to locate the animal on that night due to the darkness," he added. The incident occurred a few hours after the first test flight of the unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) for better surveillance began in the park.

The state forest department had urged the Centre to provide an unmanned aircraft in Kaziranga National Park for better surveillance in the forest to check rhino poaching and accordingly, the first test flight for the unmanned aircraft was conducted in the park on Monday. The state government is now awaiting the Union defence ministry nod to use the facility. It will make Kaziranga the first national park in the country with an UAV system.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Rhino-killed-in-Kaziranga-horn-chopped-off/articleshow/19519137.cms

Hand-reared rhino has a baby, a first for India

Saira Kurup, TNN | Apr 6, 2013
Forest officials in India have notched up a proud first. Nine years after she was rescued from the swirling flood waters of the Brahmaputra in Kaziranga national park, Ganga has become the first hand-reared one-horned rhino in the country to give birth to a calf.

The delivery took place in the wild in Manas national park. Bhaskar Choudhury, regional head, northeast India, IFAW-WTI (International Fund for Animal Welfare-Wildlife Trust of India), is feeling as proud as a new parent. "This is the most significant news for rhinos and their rehabilitation. The success of a rehab programme depends on the species producing their offspring. We are very happy," he says. IFAW-WTI runs a programme with the Assam forest department to bring rhinos back to Manas, which lost all its rhinos to poaching in 2000.

In July 2004, a badly injured Ganga, then four months old, was rescued from Kaziranga and brought to WTI's rehab centre. The calf was in shock after being separated from its mother. "The basic challenge was to make it survive after the mother could not be found," says Choudhury. Ganga was then gently hand-reared, bottle-fed and weaned for three years, before being gradually acclimatised to the wild in Manas -- her interaction with humans almost ceased, except for periodic medical assessments.

All those efforts have now borne fruition. On Friday, Ganga's three-day-old female calf was first sighted by wildlife experts around noon. "We have been observing them for the past few hours and the calf is suckling every few minutes. Ganga too has adopted the calf. These are good signs, as the chances of rejection by hand-reared rhino mothers are more, than by those in the wild," says Choudhury.

WTI started the rhino re-introduction programme in Manas in 2006. Overall, five hand-reared and radio-collared rhinos have been introduced in Manas so far. The calf's birth is a significant development for the country, which has only 2500 one-horned rhinos now. Manas has 23, and the rest are in Kaziranga. Last year, 20 rhinos were killed by poachers in Kaziranga and this year, 13 have been killed in the first three months alone. "Our biggest worry for the calf is that it will be orphaned if its mother is targeted by poachers," adds Chowdhury. He is hopeful that the two other hand-reared female rhinos in Manas would take cue from Ganga and add to the rhino numbers soon.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Hand-reared-rhino-has-a-baby-a-first-for-India/articleshow/19407874.cms

Speeding train kills female rhino

A 10-year-old female rhinoceros was killed on Monday night by a speeding goods train, bringing the total count in the Valmiki Tiger Reserve (VTR) in Bihar’s West Champaran district to two.

The accident took place near the Madanpur range, on India’s border with Nepal. An Uttar Pradesh-bound goods train hit the animal and dragged it for 750 metres, Santosh Tiwari, field director at VTR told The Hindu .

“We have been requesting the railways to limit the speed of trains to 10 kmph at night and 20 kmph during day time. But all our requests have been in vain. Since the rhino is an endangered species, the issue gets importance. Every month we have cases of animals getting killed, be it the blue bull or python, being run over by speeding trains,” Mr. Tiwari said.

The VTR authorities registered a case under Sections 9 (prohibition of hunting), 29 (destruction in a sanctuary prohibited without a permit) and 51 (penalties) of the Indian Wildlife (Protection) Act. The driver and the guard were arrested and their statements recorded, after which they were released on a bail bond. Higher Railways officials will be served notice in connection with the incident, Mr. Tiwari said.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/speeding-train-kills-female-rhino/article4527825.ece

Another rhino killed in Kaziranga

Park officials said the spot where the rhino was
shot dead was just about 700 metre from the
Erasuti anti-poaching camp situated on the
northern bank of the Brahmaputra.

JORHAT: Poachers killed another rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park on Monday. Forest staff found the carcass of the rhino at the park's Agoratoli range with the horn was missing.

Park officials said the spot where the rhino was shot dead was just about 700 metre from the Erasuti anti-poaching camp situated on the northern bank of the Brahmaputra. However, no gunshots were heard during the past 24 hours. "Our staff found the carcass of the animal close to the anti-poaching camp while they were patrolling this afternoon. They also recovered some bullets of a .303 rifle from near the body. We believe the rhino was killed by a .303 rifle with a silencer as the forest guards did not hear any gunshots,'' said chief conservator of forest (Kaziranga) N K Vasu.

After the carcass was found, forest staff launched an operation in and around the northern side of the park, Vasu said, adding, "Forest guards have been put on high alert in all the forest ranges of the park and both forest guards and the newly-appointed Assam Forest Protection Force personnel have been engaged in the operation."

He said that with this incident, the total number of rhino deaths due to poaching in Kaziranga and it's adjacent forest divisions areas has mounted to nine this year so far. The first poaching incident occurred near Sorali anti-poaching camp in Burapahar forest range on January 29 followed by three rhino killings on January 30, February 2 and 4 respectively.

To curb the unabated rhino poaching in the World Heritage Site park, the state forest department recently formed the Assam Forest Protection Force (AFPF) and recruited 300 personnel for Kaziranga. This force is equipped with SLR and .303 rifles. According to the park authorities, about 100 such AFPF personnel have already joined their duties at the park and are working in different forest camps along with other forest guards.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Another-rhino-killed-in-Kaziranga/articleshow/18682496.cms

Poachers kills another rhino in Kaziranga, chop off horn

Naresh Mitra, TNN | Feb 18, 2013
GUWAHATI: There has been no let up in rhino poaching in Assam yet. On Saturday, poachers killed another rhino at Kaziranga National Park and chopped off its horn. With the latest killing, the rhino poaching toll this year has risen to seven in Kaziranga.

The killing took place in the Kawoimari area under Bagori forest range of the park. The carcass was found on Sunday.

Park director N K Vasu said the rhino was poached in the interior parts of the park and forest officials had to fire in the air to scare a herd of elephants so that they could reach the spot.

Vasu said three rhinos were killed inside the park, while another four were poached after the animals strayed out of Kaziranga.

"We did have intelligence inputs about the activity of poachers. But unfortunately, the rhino could not be saved. On the northern bank of the Brahmaputra, poachers have stepped up their activities. There are many sand islands from where poachers operate. We are doing our best to deal with them," Vasu said.

Soon after the news of poaching spread in the fringes of Kaziranga, locals surrounded the director's and divisional forest officer's office at Bokakhat, accusing the forest department for its failure to stop killing of rhinos. Many of the protestors also planned to stage a demonstration on Monday.

In a separate event, Assamese film stars, including Nishita Goswami, joined a public campaign to save rhinos, which is also the state animal.

Kaziranga lost at least 18 rhinos to poachers last year. This is, in addition, to the 28 rhinos killed during floods between June and September last year.

Assam boasts that it houses two-third of the world's Indian one-horned rhinos. Kaziranga alone has over 2,000 rhinos. While floods are a part of Kaziranga's ecosystem, leading to the death of nearly 700 different wildlife species, including rhinos last year. However, wildlife crime experts said the spurt in poaching in recent times did not augur well for the long-term conservation of rhinos if foolproof mechanism is not put in place right now.

Wildlife crime experts said the rise in the demand for rhino horns in China and Vietnam has escalated the killings of the one-horned pachyderm in Kaziranga. Generally horns are smuggled out to Myanmar through the porous international border in Manipur.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Poachers-kills-another-rhino-in-Kaziranga-chop-off-horn/articleshow/18551335.cms

National Green Tribunal refuses permission to brick kilns near Kaziranga National Park

PTI

While disposing of the pleas, the tribunal noted that
there was controversy whether the units are located
within the no-development zone or outside it as
claimed by the brick kilns in their application.

NEW DELHI: The National Green Tribunal (NGT) has refused permission to some brick kiln units from operating in the no-development zone near Kaziranga National Park in Assam, saying they do not have consent of authorities and are also one of the "most polluting industries".

While disposing of the pleas, the NGT bench headed by Justice A S Naidu, who recently retired from the tribunal, also noted that there was controversy regarding whether the units are located within the no-development zone (NDZ) or outside it as claimed by the brick kilns in their application.

"It appears that the consent order for setting up the brick kiln is not available. Therefore, it is not possible for us to appreciate the clauses/conditions imposed. That apart, there is controversy with regard to exact location of the brick kiln(s) i.e. as to whether the same is situated within the NDZ or outside.

"The applicant(s) cannot be permitted to function within the NDZ of Kaziranga National Park in the absence of consent," the bench said.

The brick kilns had moved the NGT seeking review of its February 15, 2012 order restraining grant of fresh approvals to industries or stone-crushing units and renewal of licences of existing ones operating in the NDZ near the park.

The February 15 order had come in a case filed by Assam- based activist Rohit Chaudhary, seeking directions to stop quarrying and stone-crushing units around Kaziranga.

In their appeal seeking permission to operate, the brick kiln owners had claimed they were situated beyond the NDZ and were set up after complying with all the formalities.

This contention was opposed by the ministry of environment and forests (MoEF) and Chaudhary's counsel.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/National-Green-Tribunal-refuses-permission-to-brick-kilns-near-Kaziranga-National-Park/articleshow/18322990.cms

Another rhino killed by poachers in Kaziranga

PTI
JORHAT: A rhino was killed and its horn removed at the Kaziranga National Park in Assam making it the fifth to have fallen prey to poachers this month.

The rhino was killed yesterday near Hatibandi Camp under Bagori range on the southern side of the park along Nagaon and Karbi Anglong districts, divisional forest officer (DFO) D D Gogoi said today.

Two empty cartridges of AK-47 assault rifle were recovered near the carcass, Gogoi said.

The police suspect the involvement of Karbi Peoples Liberation Tiger (KPLT) insurgents in the poaching.

A male rhino was killed on Sunday night near Borholla camp in the Burapahar range of the park.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Another-rhino-killed-by-poachers-in-Kaziranga/articleshow/18236778.cms

Killing of rhino by tiger worries Dudhwa wildlife officials

ATIQ KHAN
A day after the half-eaten carcass of a 34-year-old female rhinoceros named Pavitri was recovered from the Rhino Rehabilitation Area in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) at Dudhwa National Park (DNP) in Lakhimpur Kheri district of Uttar Pradesh following her killing by a big cat, wildlife officials are perplexed at the tigers developing a liking for the one-horned animal despite the presence of ample prey base in the forest.

The late Monday night killing is the third instance of a rhino being killed by the roaming big cats in the last 14 months since the killing of a 35-year old male rhino in November 2011 followed by that of a young adult in December 2011. A female rhino named Himrani was attacked and injured by a tiger on December 1, 2011 but managed to survive due to the efforts of the park authorities.

In December last year another female rhino was mauled by a tiger in the rehabilitation area, but survived the deadly attack.

While the exact causes of the frequent attacks by the feline are yet to be ascertained, Deputy Director of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve Ganesh Bhatt said that it is not an unnatural phenomena as similar attacks have taken place in Kaziranga national park in Assam. “Calves and sub-adults and those rhinos who are weak are generally attacked by tigers, as had been the case with the adult female rhinoceros, Himrani, who too was weak,” Mr. Bhatt told The Hindu from DTR. However, the Dudhwa official clarified that the latest casualty, Pavitri was not weak bodied.

Since the tiger attacks have taken place in the months of November and December when the entire Terai region of Uttar Pradesh where Dudhwa is located is enveloped by dense fog it has been suggested that the big cats might have mistook the rhinos for some other animal.

Following the death of the female of the species, there are 33 rhinos in the rehabilitation area, which owes it origin to the Rhino Rehabilitation Project when seven rhinos were relocated in Dudhwa in 1984-85.

The movement of the rhinos in the rehabilitation area is being closely monitored and tracked by the authorities with the help of a unique identification system--the rhinos have been provided with identity numbers.

The rhino rehabilitation area in Salukapur in Sonaripur range of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve is spread over an area of about 28 square kilometre. The entire area is fenced but as the Deputy Director of the Tiger Reserve said that barring the elephants the other animals including the tiger can cross the fence and enter the rehabilitation area. Even the rhinos cannot venture out of their home.

The grasslands of the Terai region once served as the natural habitat for the Great Indian Rhinoceros ( “Rhinoceros Unicornis” ) before the last rhino was hunted down by “ shikaris ” and poachers in the 19th century. Some years after the Dudhwa National Park came into existence in 1977, conservationists played an enabling role in relocating rhinos in the area. In 1984, five rhinos including three females were relocated from Kaziranga national park under the Rhino Rehabilitation Project. Two of the animals later died.

In 1985 four females from Shukla Phanta in bordering Nepal were shifted to Dudhwa in exchange of 16 elephants. Today there are 33 rhinos in the rehabilitation area.

Since the majority of the rhinos in the area have been sired by a single male of the species - Bankey, now in his 36th year ( the rhinos can live up to 60 years ), who was relocated from Assam in 1984 as a calf ---wild life enthusiasts have felt that in-breeding would effect the immune system of the animals.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/todays-paper/tp-national/killing-of-rhino-by-tiger-worries-dudhwa-wildlife-officials/article4363274.ece

Survival of rhino at risk due to horn trade: Report

PTI

Today, rhino poaching and illegal horn trade are at their highest
levels in over 20 years, threatening to reverse years of
conservation effort, particularly in Africa.

Escalating levels of poaching and illegal trade in rhino horns are seriously undermining rhino conservation efforts, putting the survival of the species at risk, according to a report by two global conservation organisations.

The report, prepared by IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) and TRAFFIC, a wildlife trade monitoring network, says that illegal trade in rhino horns involves highly organised, mobile and well-financed criminal groups, mainly composed of Asian nationals based in Africa.

“The findings of the report are alarming,” says Tom Milliken, a rhino expert from TRAFFIC. “Today, rhino poaching and illegal horn trade are at their highest levels in over 20 years, threatening to reverse years of conservation effort, particularly in Africa. There is no doubt that rhino species are facing a serious crisis.”

In Asia, although conservation action in Nepal and India has resulted in increased numbers of the Great One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), the situation in Indonesia and Malaysia remains serious for the world’s two rarest rhino species- the Sumatran Rhinoceros and the Javan Rhinoceros, it says.

The report came at a time when India is making major efforts to deal with the incidents of poaching involving the rhinoceros in Assam.

“Rhinos are killed for their horns, which are seen as highly desirable status symbols in parts of Asia, notably Vietnam, but also increasingly in China,” says Bibhab Kumar Talukdar, head of IUCN Species Survival Commission’s (SSC) Asian Rhino Specialist Group.

“Horns are also increasingly used for non-traditional purposes such as hangover cure and body detoxifier, especially in Vietnam,” he says.

According to the report, the crime networks have recruited “pseudo-hunters including Vietnamese citizens, Thai prostitutes and proxy hunters from the Czech Republic and Poland” to obtain rhino horns in South Africa on the pretence of trophy hunts for illegal commercial trade.

Source: http://www.thehindu.com/sci-tech/energy-and-environment/survival-of-rhino-at-risk-due-to-horn-trade-report/article4316187.ece

Two rhinos killed by poachers in Assam

PTI

Two adult Rhinos with their horns
chopped off were found dead today in
separate forest areas of central Assam.

Orang National Park, located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in Darrang district. GUWAHATI/MORIGAON: Two adult Rhinos with their horns chopped off were found dead today in separate forest areas of central Assam.

Both the male rhinos had been killed by poachers, Forest department officials said.

The carcass of one of the rhinos was recovered from Gopaljaroni area near Gohpur in Sonitpur district. The rhino's horn was chopped off, along with its tail and some other body parts, they said.

It is yet to be ascertained when it was killed, the officials said.

Following the recovery of the carcass, 12 persons were detained in Gohpur while they were engaged in distributing flesh of the rhino.

It is suspected that the rhino had strayed from the Northern Range of Kaziranga National Park. The range is located in the north bank of the Brahmaputra in Sonitpur district, while the other ranges are in the south bank.

The other rhino with its horn removed was found dead in the wetlands near Brahmaputra river in Morigaon district of Assam.

Officials said the animal was killed during the past 48 hours and left at Sheetalmari char under Belguri police station, they said.

The rhino has reportedly strayed from the Orang National Park, located on the north bank of the Brahmaputra River in Darrang district, and crossed to the southern bank in Morigaon through one of the four corridors used by animals during the winter months.

Rhino horn is highly valued across the world for its alleged aphrodisiac qualities and use in traditional medicine.

Source: http://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/home/environment/flora-fauna/Two-rhinos-killed-by-poachers-in-Assam/articleshow/17984286.cms