Population of rhinos on steady rise in Jaldapara

Siliguri, Jul 21: The number of rhinoceros at Jaldapara in the Dooars of north Bengal has increased to 155, a jump of 23 per cent in two years from 126 in 2009, an official census report today said.
Jaldapara is the only home for Asiatic one-horn rhino in West Bengal after Kaziranga National Park in Assam.

Divisional forest officer, Wildlife III, Omprakash Gupta said a census conducted in March 11-12 last spotted altogether 155 rhinos in Jaldapara under Alipurduar sub-division of Jalpaiguri district.

The rate of growth in rhinos' population is considered to be faster than expected even though there has been denudation of animal habitat and poaching for horns continued.

Two years ago the figure was 126, 18 more from what was recorded in 2006.

Of the total 155 rhinos the number of adult males was 54 and 44 females and the gender of the rest could not be ascertained, the report said.

The maiden rhino count in the 116 sqkm Jaldapara sanctuary, about 45km east from here, was conducted in 1966 and records show that there were 75 rhinos in the forest then. In 1969, the number rose to 80.

A survey in 1985 had revealed a decline in the rhino population, which came down to 14, forcing the authorities to take up intensive protection work to save the pachyderms.

Apart from Jaldapara, Gorumara National Park has also some population of rhinos.

--UNI