Roadmap for rhino land

The rise in rhino population in Kaziranga is cheering news for nature lovers. For the authorities of Kaziranga National Park, it also brings new challenges to the management of the rhino habitats, fodder availability and conservation of its rich biodiversity. Balancing the increasing flow of tourists to the World Heritage Site and conservation strategies for its management has also become an enormous task for the park authorities. The latest Census of rhinos at the national park estimates the total population at 2,613 compared to 2413 rhinos estimated during the 2018 Census. The increase in population by 200 rhinos over four years contrasted to an increase of 12 rhinos in 2018 over 2015 estimates is reflective of conservation efforts, including tough anti-poaching measures by park authorities and the Assam government. The State government by burning a stockpile of 2479 seized, confiscated, and recovered rhino horns had sent a strong message against poaching as it busts the myth of rhino horns having medicinal value. Sighting of an increased population of the vulnerable species even after the natural death of an estimated 400 rhinos and three due to poaching since the last census is a pointer in that direction. However, fewer sighting in 2018 was also attributed to the incomplete burning of grasses before the Census which cannot be overlooked and estimates of the next Census will reveal the actual trajectory of the growth in the population of one-horned rhinos in the park. Assam cabinet's approval to draft notification of the integrated eco-sensitive zone around the Kaziranga tiger reserve, seven protected areas adjacent to it and delineation of nine animal corridors is a significant step to boost conservation efforts. Eco-sensitive zones act like shock absorbers of protected areas by the way of prohibition, and regulation of anthropogenic activities for the environment and ecological security. Building awareness among local people living on the fringe of the national park and in the proposed eco-sensitive zone on conservation measures is critical to sustaining the success story. The delineation of the animal corridors alone is not going to facilitate the smooth migration of park animals during floods across the National Highway 37 in search of food and shelter towards the high lands of the Karbi Anglong-Kaziranga landscape. Regulating traffic along the highway is a stop-gap arrangement and has not been proved a hundred per cent effective in the complete curb of park animals getting killed and injured in incidents of vehicle-hit due to reckless driving in violation of the speed limit and ignoring appeal to drive cautiously while passing over the animal corridors. The proposal to construct an elevated road over the stretch from Jakhalabandha in the West and Kohora in the East with flyovers and animal overpass triggered hopes of an alternative and long-term solution to regulated traffic but is yet to get the Central Government's nod. Park authorities have been pushing for the removal of settlements near the animal corridors. The comprehensive planning for rehabilitation and compensation for relocation of the settlements is crucial for proposed investments for alternative traffic movement through the park landscape to ensure smooth migration of animals and the entire 39-km stretch of the existing NH serving as a highland serving as a shelter for rhino and other animals escaping flood fury. The national park received the highest footfall of 2.20 lakh in 2021-22 over the past 12 years and revenue collected from tourists touching the Rs 4.5 lakh mark calls for a scientific review to rule out that the park's capacity has not been stretched to the limit with a jump in inflow of tourists. The Kaziranga tiger reserve bearing a healthy tiger population and high density of tigers leading to frequent sightings of tigers is also believed to have attracted more tourists to the national park. With international travel destinations remaining out of bounding due to COVID-19 restrictions, more domestic tourists have flocked to the rhino habitats and if the latest trend inflow of tourists is going to hold will be known only during the next tourism season provided other countries also fully unlocks and global disruptions caused by the Russia-Ukraine conflict gets over by then. The rise in rhino population reminds the park authorities about the long-term strategy that is needed for the management of its grassland to ensure that the species does not face fodder shortage. Invasive species like mimosa and water hyacinth overgrowth in wetlands of the rhino habitat cause ecological degradation of the habitat adding to the problem of fodder management. While declining incidents of poaching do not allow lowering of the guards, management of the ecological landscape entails undertaking more scientific studies and research and deployment of trained professionals besides technology adoption which requires adequate funding by the central and Assam government. Kaziranga needs an updated roadmap of a robust conservation strategy to cater to the challenges and opportunities brought about by the rise in rhino population and increasing footfall in the national park bearing the world's largest one-horned rhino population.