Lok Sabha Question No. 1406 (UNSTARRED), answered on 2016-07-26
Subject: Protection of Rhinos
Ministry: ENVIRONMENT,  FORESTS AND CLIMATE CHANGE
Asked by: SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL

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

## LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO.1406

TO BE ANSWERED ON  26.07.2016

## Protection of Rhinos

## 1406.  SHRI SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL:

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

- (a) the  details  of  projects/schemes  implemented  for  conservation  of  'One  Horned Rhino' in the country;
- (b) the impact of these projects/schemes in increasing the population of Rhinos in the country, Sanctuary and State/UT-wise;
- (c) whether any shortcoming has been identified in the said schemes and if so, the details thereof;  and
- (d) whether the Government has taken note of killing of Rhinos at predictable interval in Kaziranga of Assam and if so, the preventive steps taken/being taken so far in this regard?

## ANSWER

## MINISTER  OF  STATE  (INDEPENDENT  CHARGE) FOR ENVIRONMENT, FOREST AND CLIMATE CHANGE

## (SHRI ANIL MADHAV DAVE)

- (a) The  Ministry  provides  financial  assistance  to  State/UT  Government  under various Centrally Sponsored Schemes for protection of wild animals including one  horned  rhinos  and  their  habitats.  Most  of  the  Rhino  habitats  are  part  of Tiger Reserves- Kaziranga Tiger Reserve, Manas Tiger Reserve, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve  and  Rajiv  Gandhi  Orang  National  Park  notified  under  Wild  Life (Protection)  Act,  1972.  Others  have  been  declared  as  Wildlife  Sanctuaries, National Parks- Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park, Katernighat Wildlife Sanctuary and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
- (b) Rhinos are found in the State of Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh. The inputs  given  have  resulted  in  increase  in  number  of  Rhino  population  in  the States  of  Assam,  Uttar  Pradesh  and  West  Bengal.  Sanctuary-wise  details  of rhino  population  in  Assam,  Uttar  Pradesh    and  West  Bengal  is  given  in  the Annexure.
- (c) No sir.
- (d) Yes  Sir.    Government  of  India  is  seized  with  this  menace  and  has  taken  a number  of  steps  for  protection  of  Rhinos  in  Kaziranga.    The  steps  taken  for protection of rhino in  Kaziranga National Park is given below:
- (a) A  Rhino  Task  Force  has  been  created  for  suggesting  measures  to strengthen rhino protection in the Kaziranga Tiger Reserve (Rhino Task Force  has  submitted  its  report  and  suggested  actions  for  control  of poaching etc.).
- (b) In-principle  approval  has  been  accorded  for  creation  of  Special  Rhino Protection Force at Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
- (c) Fostering  a  voluntary  group  'Friends  for  Rhino'  for  eliciting  public support  for  rhino  conservation  with  active  local  participation  around Kaziranga Tiger Reserve.
- (d) CBI investigation in rhino poaching cases handed over by the State of Assam.
- (e) Supporting  health  insurance  to  field  staff-  Approved  by  the  technical committee of the NTCA to constitute a revolving fund for Rs. 20 Lakhs which shall be reimbursed on a case to case basis.
- (f) Forest  officers  are  given  power  for  using  fire  arms  under  Section  197 (2) of CrPc in Assam.
- (g) Installation of 24x7 hours electronic eye surveillance system to monitor the  wild  animals  and  other  related  issues  in  the  Kaziranga  Tiger Reserve.  Anti Rhino Poaching Task Force  was constituted, headed by Additional Director General of Police, STF, Assam.

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ANNEXURE

## ANNEXURE REFERRED TO IN REPLY TO PART (a) AND (b) OF THE LOK SABHA UNSTARRED QUESTION NO. 1406  REGARDING 'PROTECTION OF RHINOS'  BY SHRI SIRAJUDDIN AJMAL FOR REPLY ON 26.07.2016

## The population of Rhino in the State of Assam.

|   Year |   Kaziranga National Park | Manas National Park      | Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park   | Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary   |   Total |
|--------|---------------------------|--------------------------|------------------------------------|-------------------------------|---------|
|   2009 |                      2048 | 5                        | 64                                 | 84                            |    2201 |
|   2012 |                      2290 | 22                       | 100                                | 93                            |    2505 |
|   2013 |                      2329 | 22 (estimation not done) | 100 (estimation not done)          | 93 (estimation not done)      |    2544 |
|   2015 |                      2401 | 30                       | 100 (estimation not done)          | 93 (estimation not done)      |    2624 |

## The population of Rhino in the State of West Bengal .

| Year    |   Jaldapara National Park |   Gorumara Wildlife Sanctuary |   Total |
|---------|---------------------------|-------------------------------|---------|
| 2006-07 |                       108 |                            27 |     135 |
| 2008-09 |                       125 |                            31 |     156 |
| 2011-12 |                       149 |                            43 |     192 |
| 2013-14 |                       186 |                            50 |     236 |
| 2014-15 |                       204 |                            51 |     255 |

## The population of Rhino in the State of Uttar Pradesh .

|   Year | Dudhwa National Park   | Katernighat Wildlife Sanctuary   |
|--------|------------------------|----------------------------------|
|   1984 | 6                      | -                                |
|   2013 | -                      | 6                                |
|   2016 | 34                     | -                                |