Jaldapara scores a ton

Alipurduar, Feb. 15: A laudable achievement when the species itself is facing extinction in the rest of the world; Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary has succeeded in increasing the number of rhinoceros in the sanctuary to 108. In its entire history the population of the rhinos had never crossed above hundred in the area. This figure was arrived at after the census this year.

The Divisional Forest Officer of Cooch Behar said that the rhino population included 70 adults, 12 slightly below adult age, and 26 cubs, which are 12 more than the rhino population surveyed two year ago. Forest official were triumphant that their efforts to protect and increase the rhino population has finally yielded results.

In the past the rhinoceros in the sanctuary had faced difficult days when they were almost on the verge of extinction because of incessant poaching. The rhino population had alarmingly decreased in 1985 to 14 from 84 in 1972. However, constant patrolling of the forest by the forest officials and conservation methods like cultivation of grass that provides food for rhinoceros helped to increase the population cross the milestone.

Since 1999, there has been not a single incident in the park when a rhino was killed by poachers thanks to the involvement of the villagers in providing information to protect the rhinos. The efforts of the forest officials and the villagers of the area are indeed praiseworthy.

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