Kaziranga's rhino count increases by 200 in 4 years
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Guwahati: The one-horned rhinoceros' population in the Kaziranga National Park has reached 2,613 with an increase of 200, PTI reported citing official information on Tuesday.
A rhino census drive spanned four days, recorded 903 females, 750 males and 170 of undetermined sex in the adult category of above six years of age. In the sub-adult category of three to six years, 146 females, 116 males and 103 whose sex could not be determined were found.
In the Juvenile category, one to three years of age, 279 and 146 calves, less than one year of age, were found. The census was conducted from March 25 to 28.
The last census was in 2018, which recorded 2,413 rhinos.
The drive was attended by 64 enumerators, 12 independent observers and 49 media observers, an official said.
To cover the 84 compartments of the park, 50 elephants were deployed, and 252 frontline staff were directly involved in the process. The exercise utilized drones to sample recheck and GPS devices for enumerators for better observation.
Meanwhile, similar exercises were rolled out in Orang National Park and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, both gave results of an increase in rhino population. Orang is hosting 125 rhinos against 101 in 2018 and Pobitora 107 against 102 in the last census.
In April 2021, a census in Manas National Park found that it is hosting 48 rhinos.
