GUWAHATI:
Tourism-related activities will be suspended in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) for two days owing to the 14th Rhino Population Estimation (RPE) from March 26 to 28, park officials informed, on March 9.
Divisional Forest Officer (DFO), Ramesh Kumar Gogoi said, “This census is a mandatory management practice. The suspension of tourism-related activities during these three days is necessary for the interest of smooth conduct of the estimation. The park authority will not be liable for any losses or damage caused due to the closure.”
While the jeep safari will be closed in all the ranges, except Eastern Range and Agoratoli on March 26, it will be opened in Burapahar, Kaziranga, Kohora and Western Ranges the following day. On March 28, the jeep safari will be opened only in Burapahar Range, Gogoi said.
Kaziranga is home to over 91 per cent of rhinos of the state and over 80 per cent of India’s count. A 2015 population census by the park authorities revealed 2,401 rhinos within the park. Rhinos are concentrated within the Kaziranga National Park (KNP), with a few in Pobitara Wildlife Sanctuary (PWS).
From a population of barely 75 in 1905, there were over 2,700 rhinos in 2012. The figure has now gone well past 3600 in 2020, due to receding poaching because of better policing and protection by the Assam government, along with NGOs.
It is to be noted that although rhino poaching peaked in 2013, where 41 rhinos were killed, it has since declined.