Union Forest Ministry, Assam Forest Department to Discuss ‘Anomalies’ in Kaziranga Rhino Census

GUWAHATI: On Wednesday (May 24), a conference regarding reported discrepancies in the estimation of rhinos in Kaziranga National Park will be held between representatives of the Assam forest department and the Union Environment, Forest, and Climate Change Ministry.

The conference will be attended by the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF), the Head of the Forest Force (HoFF), the Chief Wild Life Warden, the Director of Kaziranga National Park (KNP), the evaluators of the rhino enumeration exercise in KNP, and the SPIO of the rhino enumeration exercise in KNP.

The Addl. Director General of Forests & Director, of Wild Life Preservation will preside over the meeting, according to a notice from Rakesh Kumar Jagenia, Deputy Inspector General of Forests (Wildlife) of the Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change ministry.

An earlier request for a "factual report" from the Chief Wildlife Warden (CWLW) of Assam was made by the Union Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change on February 19 in response to a complaint made by Assam environmental activist Rohit Choudhury alleging discrepancies in the estimation of the rhinos in Kaziranga National Park.

“As per the 2015 estimate, the number of rhinos in Kaziranga was 2401, while it was 2411 as per the 2018 estimate. On the other hand, according to the 2022 estimate, the number of rhinos was 2600 plus. And CWLW Yadav said this was despite 400 deaths. If 2411 rhinos recorded in 2018 have to multiply to 3000 (so that 400 of them could die), they have to be mating day & night in disregard to the mating season and mating habits,” said the official.

The rhino population estimate in Kaziranga National Park for 2022, according to activist Rohit Choudhury's letter to the Union Environment and Forest Ministry, was allegedly increased by falsifying survey data sheets.

Choudhury claimed that data sheets from the census of the 84 compartments of the national park indicated that there were 2,042 rhinos in total.

However, this number was "adjusted" to reflect 2,613 rhinos following a sample survey in a few randomly chosen compartments—an increase of 200 from the 2,413 rhinos projected in 2018, the activist claimed.

In a bid to "mislead the government and the public on the actual number of rhinos" in the national park, according to Rohit Choudhury, the survey data sheets were altered.

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