3 rhino calves, rescued during floods, to be released in Manas National Park

BOKAKHAT: The Assam forest department is planning to release three rhino calves, which were rescued during 2019 state floods, into the wild.

The rhino calves, which include two females, will be released in the Manas National Park. These calves will be kept at a special enclosure under observation for sometime before being released.

It needs mention here that the rhino calves were rescued from the fringe areas of Kaziranga National Park by the forest department during the 2019 floods in the state.

Since then, the calves have been undergoing a rehabilitation program at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) near the Kaziranga National Park.

The Manas National Park currently has a rhino population of 44 and 19 rhinos have been released in the park since 2008.

Manas National Park has seen significant growth in its rhino population in the recent years. Plans for bringing rhinos back to to the park were developed in 2005, and translocations began in 2008 with individuals moved to Manas from other protected areas in Assam as part of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020) initiative.

IRV2020 is a collaboration among the Assam Forest Department, International Rhino Foundation, WWF India, the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service, and other partners to grow rhino populations and expand their range, while protecting existing populations and their habitats.

During the first translocation in 2008, two adult males were successfully moved from the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.

Over the next four years, 16 more rhinos were translocated to from Kaziranga and Pobitora.

The translocated rhinos were radio collared to monitor their health, movement, and behavior, and obtain important data for better management and conservation of rhinos in the future.

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Today, there are around 3,700 greater one-horned rhinos in Asia, up from only 200 at the beginning of the 20th century.

While the species continues to face threats from poaching and habitat loss and degradation, indicators of population growth like those from Manas are certainly cause for hope.

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