Lok Sabha Question No. 4786 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2018-03-23
Subject: Conservation of Rhinoceros
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SANJAY JAISWAL

## GOVERNMENT OF INDIA MINISTRY OF ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4786

TO BE ANSWERED ON  23.03.2018

## Conservation of Rhinoceros

## 4786.  DR. SANJAY JAISWAL:

Will  the  Minister  of ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND  CLIMATE  CHANGE be  pleased  to state:

- (a) whether  the  Government  has  carried  out  any  exercise  to  determine  the  number  of Rhinoceros in the country;
- (b) if so, the number of Rhinoceros during each of the last three years and the current year, State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether  effective  steps  have  been  taken/proposed  to  be  taken  for  conservation  of Rhinoceros; and
- (d) if so, the details thereof?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  IN  THE  MINISTRY  OF  ENVIRONMENT,  FOREST  AND CLIMATE CHANGE (DR. MAHESH SHARMA)

- (a) and (b) Rhinoceros  in  wild  are  found  only  in  three  States    viz,  Assam,  Uttar Pradesh and West Bengal. Census of Rhinoceros is undertaken at the Statelevel by the respective State Governments  periodically. As  per the information received from the above three state Governments, the estimation of rhinoceros population in 2015 is given in the Annexure. No census has been carried out during the  current year.
- (c) and(d) The steps taken by the Government for the conservation  of  wild animals including rhinoceros and their habitats include:
- i. The Wild Life (Protection) Act, 1972 provides for punishment for violation  of  its  provisions.  The  Act  also  provides  for  forfeiture  of any  equipment,  vehicle  or  weapon  that  is  used  for  committing wildlife offence(s).
- ii. New rhino habitat has been created at Patlakhawa, West Bengal for conservation of rhino.
- iii. Rhinoceros is one of the seventeen species identified for Recovery programme  for  critically  endangered  species,  a  component  under the  Centrally  Sponsored  Scheme  of  'Integrated  Development  of

Wildlife Habitats'. Under this scheme Central assistance is provided for the recovery and protection of this species.

- iv. Most of the rhino habitats  in three states  are  covered  under Tiger Reserves.  The  funds provided  under  the  Centrally  Sponsored Scheme of 'Project Tiger' for protection and conservation of tigers in  these  states  also  provides  protection  and  conservation  to  other animals  including  one-horned  Rhinoceros.  For  other  Protected Areas  having  rhino  population,  financial  assistance  is  provided under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme of Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats'.
- v. Arrangement has been made to keep 24 hours surveillance on the parks through Electronic Eye Surveillance System and drones.
- vi. Number of  anti-poaching  camps  have  been  increased  to  effective surveillance in and around rhino bearing areas.
- vii. Joint  operation  by Forest,  Police  and  STF  is  also  conducted regularly  to  nab  the  suspected  poachers  and  joint  patrolling  is carried out regularly.
- viii. Sophisticated  weapons  like  INSAS  Rifles  and  SLR  has  been procured  by  the  State  Government  for  use  in  Kaziranga  National Park in Assam  for anti poaching activities.
- ix. For  soliciting  cooperation  from  fringe  villagers  around  Park  and assist  in  curving  Rhino  poaching,  Eco-development  Committees have  been  registered  through  which  development  works  in  the villages are being taken up.

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## ANNEXURE

ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PARTS (a) AND (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 4786 REGARDING 'CONSERVATION OF RHINOCEROS' BY DR. SANJAY JAISWAL DUE FOR REPLY ON 23.03.2018.

## Estimation of rhinoceros population as per the information received from the State Governments

| Name of the State   | Year                                  | Name of the Protected Area   | Estimated population         |
|---------------------|---------------------------------------|------------------------------|------------------------------|
| Assam               | 2015                                  | Kaziranga National Park      | 2401                         |
| Assam               | 2015                                  | Manas National Park          | 30                           |
| Assam               | 2012 (no census was done during 2015) | Orang National Park          | 100                          |
| Assam               | 2012 (no census was done during 2015) | Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary  | 93                           |
| West Bengal         | 2015                                  | Jaldapara National Park      | 204                          |
| West Bengal         | 2015                                  | Gorumara National Park       | 49+2 (DarjeelingWL Division) |
| Uttar Pradesh       |                                       | Dudhwa National Park         | 34                           |