23 Jan :Centre for Wildlife Rhinoceros and Conservation has been established at Panbari near Bokakhat, Assam in 2001 to protect and conserve rhinoceros. Though number of rhinoceros is not dwindling but stable in Kaziranga National Park, the Government has taken special steps to protect wildlife including rhinoceros.
Vaccination programmes are carried out among the cattle of the fringe villages of the Park for preventing epidemic diseases in rhinoceros. Besides this, earthen platforms have been raised in the National Park to provide adequate shelter to animals and Special Rescue Teams have also been put to service during flood season to save stranded animals. Intensive patrolling in sensitive areas is carried out in coordination with other law enforcement agencies for the conservation of rhinoceros. Nature awareness campaigns for the public are conducted regularly. Eco development activities are initiated in fringe villages to solicit people’s participation in conservation
Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is included in Schedule I of the Wildlife (Protection) Act, 1972, thereby according it the highest degree of protection.
Wildlife Crime Control Bureau, with a network of five Regional and three Sub Regional Offices, has been set up to control wildlife crime.Financial support is being provided under the Centrally Sponsored Schemes viz. – Development of National Park and Sanctuaries, Project Tiger and Project Elephant to State/UT Governments for the conservation and protection of wildlife including rhinoceros and its habitats. The Central Government has enacted the Wildlife (Protection0 Act, 1972 to deal with the issues of wildlife conservation. Stringent penalties are imposed on the offenders for the contravention of the provisions of the Act.
As per the State Government, 18 rhinoceros died as a result of flood in Kaziranga National Park during the last five Elevan of them died during 2004, 2 each during 2005 and 2008 and three died during 2007.