The Uttarakhand State Wildlife Board has recently approved a proposal made by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) for the introduction of rhinoceroses to the Corbett Tiger Reserve (CTR). The plan is to usher in around 10 rhinos in the initial phase. Subsequently, another set of 10 rhinos will be brought in, with the animals being sourced from either Assam or West Bengal, or both.
Rationale Behind the Translocation
The fundamental reasoning behind this translocation of rhinos into CTR is to enhance tourism and also to rejuvenate the habitats of the species that depend on low-height grass. Rhinoceroses have been known to lower the size of elephant grass through consumption, which in turn, fosters the growth of species like Hog Deer, Cheetal, Sambar, and Swamp Deer, which thrive on lower-height grass. Furthermore, the geographical terrain and environmental conditions at CTR are deemed suitable for rhinos.
Valley habitats flanked by the lower Himalayas towards the north, Shivalik Hills towards the south, and the Ramganga Reservoir towards the east, serve as the ideal environments for these animals. These natural features would also function as barriers to limit rhino movement, subsequently reducing man-animal conflicts.
Restoring Ecological Balance and Addressing the Threat of Poaching
The rhinoceros’s range was once spread across the flood plains of the Indus, Ganges, and Brahmaputra rivers. However, due to anthropogenic pressures and rampant poaching, their presence is now limited to fragmented pockets in India and Nepal. Experts from WII argue that their reintroduction into habitats within the historical range would not only create “safety-net” populations for the species but also restore their ecological role in these faunally-degraded habitats.
Rhinos are frequently targeted by poachers, who value the animals’ horns, believed to possess aphrodisiac properties. To counter this threat, each translocated animal will be fitted with a GPS radio-collar. This will enable monitoring of their range patterns, foraging habits, demography, and habitat use. The data gathered will be shared with the Forest Department, which will be responsible for ensuring the safety of the re-introduced rhinos.
| Species | Current Habitat | Poaching Status |
|---|---|---|
| Rhinoceroses | Small fragmented pockets in India and Nepal | Poached for their horns |
About the Wildlife Institute of India and the Corbett Tiger Reserve
The Wildlife Institute of India is an autonomous institution operating under the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change. The institute was established in 1982 and is situated in Dehradun, Uttarakhand. WII offers training programs, academic courses, and advisory support in the field of wildlife research and management. On the other hand, the Corbett Tiger Reserve, located in the Nainital district of Uttarakhand, has been a key area for tiger conservation since 1973 when the Project Tiger was launched.
The primary rivers flowing through the Corbett National Park, which forms a part of CTR, include Ramganga, Sonanadi, Mandal, Palain, and Kosi. As of August 2019, India is home to a total of 50 Tiger Reserves.