GOLAGHAT, April 26 � The Indian one-horned rhino which is the pride of India in general and Assam in particular is facing a serious threat from the occurrence of annual floods. The species was once abundant in a huge area from Afghanistan along the Gangetic belt of India upto Sadiya, including Bangladesh. Due to indiscriminate killing as well as loss of natural habitat, it is now confined only to a few pockets in Assam, North Bengal and Nepal.
The Kaziranga National Park (KNP) is a suitable habitat for the normal propagation of the species. After careful consideration certain essential steps for its conservation and preservation were forwarded during 1993. The floods, an annual feature submerges 80 per cent of the land area of KNP and is posing a serious threat to wildlife. Further the floods sometimes occur more than twice a year.
During floods most animals take shelter on the highlands, which are not adequate to accommodate such a heterogeneses assembly of animals. It has been suggested by various quarters that there should be a constant monitoring of the soil and water of KNP.
The survey of intestinal parasites on the rhino, clearly showed several species of parasites belonging to the groups of �gigantica param phistomam�, a magua which are commonly prevalent in domestic animals are found in many wild animals and rhinos in particular.
There is a high risk involved in the spread of these parasites causing death of domestic animals. They may spread in an epidemic form among the wild animals.
Flood water may sometime bring some unknown diseases on wild animals as well. It is high time to consider the matter seriously, experts pointed out.
There should be a constant health-monitoring programme ahead of and after the monsoon as well as immediately after the flood. Although there are a few platforms within the park, they are not enough to provides proper shelter to all during such devastating floods.
It has been stated that the diversion of the highland and its inclusion around the existing National High Way with the incorporation of a few surrounding areas such as those in Karbi Anglong will not also increase it area atleast 30 to 40 per cent but will also create a conducive environment for their propagation as well as, protection from floods.
The reason for continuance of poaching in KNP is also a burning problem for the people, mainly nature lovers of the North East. A growing demand for rhino horn in East Asia and its barter for arms by the North Eastern extremists is pushing the Indian one-horned rhinocerous to the brick of extinction, said a traffic India report.
Rhino horns which can fetch upto Rs 8 lakh a kg are bartered by the northeastern militants with the poaching syndicates in Nagaland and neighbouring Myanmar for arms, the report said.
Some evidence of such exchange came to light in Manas, as in the case of horns from Kaziranga bartered for arms in Nagaland and Myanmar, the report said, adding, Assamese and Naga ultras even sell the horns to fund their activities. More than 800 rhinos had been killed by poachers during the last decade in India, mainly for horn which have a huge demands in East Asian� oriental medicine markets for its so-called aphrodisiac and medicinal qualities, said the report titled �Under siege�.
According to some accounts, rhino horn is one of the components put together to prepare basic printing dye to print fake currency notes in underground presses by the militant outfits in North eastern India�, the report said. A large number of Nagas and Bodo ultras are involved in poaching of rhinos in central and lower Assam. Assamese insurgents who use sophisticated, silencer-fitted weapons for the killing of rhinos get Rs 10,000 to Rs 20,000 in return, the report revealed.
�The involvement of high-ranking nationals in some of these countries in the trade markets the issue even more complicated and more threatening for rhino conservations�, said report.
In 1993, Taiwanese authorities arrested Dheky Wangchuk, the aunt of former Bhutanese King Jimge Singye Wangchuk, while entering that country with a consignment of nine bear gold bladders and 22 rhino horn with Rs 7,69,000. Wangchuk, however, had disassociated from the scandal.
