FASS prepares white paper on rhino poaching
GUWAHATI, May 18: The NRIs (Assamese) in USA who have expressed deep concern on
the increasing incidents of rhino poaching in Assam, have been preparing a
white paper on the sensitive issue, disclosed Rajen Barua, the chief
office-bearer of the Friends of Assam & Seven Sisters (FASS).
Barua also emphasized the necessity for more awareness among the people and
their perennial cooperation to save the endangered one-horned rhinos in the
region.
Volumes have been written and spoken about the ineffectiveness of the present
measures to protect the rhinos in Kaziranga National Park and other sites. It
is time to act now, Barua asserted.
The FASS was one of the few organizations which had consistently raised its
voice for a credible and high level enquiry into the ongoing incidents of rhino
killings and take disciplinary actions against the officials and individuals
responsible for the ever increasing poaching cases.
The organization, in a statement issued from New York in March insisted that
since the Assam Government had failed miserably in its duties, the
administration of Kaziranga should be immediately placed under military rule
for the time being with strict orders to treat the poachers as terrorists.
A Citizens Vigilance Committee (CVC) was also advocated by them to monitor the
situation on a regular basis in the national parks of the State.
It may be mentioned here that the State Government, following the growing
public outrages, had asked for a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe
into the killing of over 30 rhinos in different preserves of Assam since
January 2007. Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi on May 2 declared that his Government
favoured a CBI enquiry into the matter.
Earlier the civil societies and the advocacy groups of the region rigorously
protested against the slaughtering of rhinos by poachers since the early part
of 2008. But the authority concerned and the State Government strongly
condemned the authority of Kaziranga, which had witnessed the loss of 26 rhinos
to poachers since January 2007.
Recognized as a safe haven for the rhinos, Kaziranga gives shelter to almost
two-thirds of the total population of one-horned rhinos on earth. A 1984 census
showed that Kaziranga, which was declared a National Park in 1974, had 1,080
rhinos. The toll increased during 1975 to 1990, nearly 25 per year. However,
1991 statistics showed that rhino population had declined to 1,069. The census
in 1999 provided more optimistic result as the number of rhinos soared to
1,552. The last census in 2006 revealed the number of rhinos in the park at
1,855.
The rhino-horn has great demand in international market as it is considered to
contain aphrodisiac qualities. The heavy animal enjoys great sexual power, as
its mating time is not less than 45 minutes (quite higher than any other
animal). Many people believe that one can achieve sexual power with the help of
rhino horns.
The horns are also believed to have medicinal values. The traditional Chinese
medicine demands rhino horns, which is believed to have the power to cure fever
and stomach ailments speedily. China, Taiwan, Thailand, South Korea and the
Middle East are known to be huge markets for illegal trading of rhino horns. It
fetches a few thousand US dollars per kilogram of horn in the international
market.
The publics resentment against the Government for its failure to protect the
rhinos was led by the All Assam Students Union (AASU), which carried out
demonstrations throughout Assam on February 2. Later the AASU activists
organized a citizens meet at Kohora in Kaziranga locality to continue
hammering on the authority. The day-long meet on February 24, which was
attended by various pressure groups, resolved to emphasize on a CBI probe to
catch the real perpetrators behind rhino poaching.
The concern for the rhinos remained visible in Assam media through their
editorials and the letters to the editor columns. Concerned citizens and the
opposition political parties and journalists bodies also expressed their deep
anguish against the unabated poaching of rhinos in Assam, particularly in
Kaziranga.
Earlier, the Natures Beckon, an active environment NGO of the region, staged a
protest rally on October 1 last, against the Forest Department of Assam. The
director of Natures Beckon Soumyadeep Datta soon came out with a shocking
revelation that the Forest Department of Assam was itself involved in the
illegal trade of rhino horns.
We have authentic information that the Forest Department sold more than 300
rhino horns even after India adopted the Wildlife Protection Act in 1972. We
are ready to provide all relevant information to CBI once it starts
investigating. The statistics of the sold rhino horns can be placed each year
as 29 (during 1971-72), 13 (1972-73), 19 (1973-74), 40 (1974-75), 18 (1975-76),
27 (1976-78), 42 (1977-78), 63 (1978-79), 63 (1978-79), 61 (1979-80), Datta
claimed.
In India, poaching is a punishable offence with up to seven years
imprisonment. India has been a member to the Convention on International Trade
in Endangered Species since 1976 and hence, in principle at least, is bound by
all its efforts to eliminate International trade in wildlife, he added.
(The Sentinel,19.05.2008)
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