Edited By Sangeeta Das
Displaying its commitment towards
wildlife conservation, the Assam Government facilitated return of two rhinos to
the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Sanctuary after almost a gap of 40 years by
evicting encroached areas, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma wrote on X post.
Expressing joy, CM Himanta shared the “iconic
Rhinos” have returned within one year of the Assam Government’s “successful
anti-encroachment operation” in the area during which forest region covering 51.7
sq km was reclaimed from the evictions last year.
READ The X Post Here:
https://x.com/himantabiswa/status/1743255675323761030?s=20
As per Kaziranga National Park and Tiger
Reserve Director Sonali Ghosh, the Laokhowa-Burachapori Sanctuary in Nagaon
district had a population of 45 to 50 rhinos until 1983.
There was degradation of grassland
habitat due to anthropogenic pressure after the rhinos were poached out. Stray
rhinos from Orang National Park on the north bank and from Kaziranga on the eastern
side had been entering through the Brahmaputra chapori areas but couldn’t stay
for longer duration, said Sonali Ghosh.
Rhinos are now being seen in the first
addition of Burachapori and Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary, respectively from November
last year after they entered through the recently restored areas of Arimari.
During the anti-encroachment drive from February
13 to 15 in 2023, at least 1,282 hectares of forest land and 817 hectares of
unsurveyed government land were evicted.
The Assam Government, as the security
measures regarding wildlife conservation and safety, has appointed deputy rangers,
forester, forest guard and other staff.
The director continued apart from rhinos,
the PA has a record of 10 tigers, suggesting a fine prey base of herbivores and
having an excellent habitat of freshwater mangroves.
