State of the Rhino 2023
Apart from poaching and habitat loss, climate change-induced droughts have been threatening the rhino population in Africa, pointed out a new report. On the other hand, climate disruptions in Asia can
Poaching
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Australia Links Organised Crime To Illegal Fishing
Organised crime groups around the world and even motorcycle gangs are becoming involved in illegal fishing, lured mainly by demand from China for prized fish species, a study by Australian crime experts said. The groups from China, Australia, Russia, Canada, South Africa, New Zealand and Japan have all been linked to illegal fishing, with fish stocks either sold illegally or used to launder money, the Australian Institute of Criminology said.
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Giraffe electrocuted
An 11-year-old male giraffe died after being electrocuted at Bagnan in Howrah yesterday. It was being transported to Nandankanan, in Orissa from Alipore Zoo. A senior zoo official said a low-bed trailer was used to ferry the giraffe. Zoo authorities received a call on Thursday night from Nandankanan saying that the animal was injured following an electric shock. Sundar was brought back to the city on Friday and it died in the zoo around 9.50 p.m. yesterday. The giraffe was buried after an autopsy. A probe has been ordered. SNS
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FASS prepares white paper on rhino poaching
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.
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Personal Thought: No end to woes of animals
Animals used by the leather industry in India are transported to states where they can legally be killed. Forced to walk through the heat and dust for days without food or water, many of the animals collapse. Handlers pull the cattle by ropes through their noses and twist their necks, horns and tails or rub chilli peppers in their eyes in order to keep them moving.
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Rare Kashmiri Deer On Verge Of Extinction-Census Report
A rare species of red deer found only in Indian Kashmir is on the verge of extinction, with only 160 animals in existence, a preliminary census by India's wildlife authorities showed on Monday. The antlered red deer, commonly known as the hangul, was once the biggest draw of Dachigam, a mountainous sanctuary on the outskirts of Kashmir's summer capital, Srinagar, where they grazed in thousands decades ago.
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Turtle meat sale defies ban
Turtle meat on sale at Bansdroni bazaar. Picture by Sanjoy Chattopadhyaya Turtle meat is being sold across the city and its adjacent areas, in violation of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972. The act bans slaughter, sale and consumption of the turtle, a protected species. Forest department officials said there were reports of turtle meat being sold in Garia, Kidderpore, Kestopur, Lake Gardens and other places. "We conduct raids and arrest the sellers,' said Atanu Raha, the state principal chief conservator of forests.
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India Tightens Security To Fight Rhino Poachers
Authorities in India's remote northeast said they were increasing security in the world's biggest reserve for the endangered great one-horned rhinoceros to save them from poachers. Poachers have killed at least 10 rhinos in two national parks in Assam state since January, eight of them at the Kaziranga National Park. "We are increasing the number of guards in Kaziranga because of a recent increase in poaching, and a probe has also been ordered," Rockybul Hussain, Assam's forest minister told Reuters on Wednesday.
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Concern over rhino killings in Kaziranga
Banajutshna, a nature organisation of Golaghat district has expressed its deep anguish over the ruthless and cold-blooded killing of the rhinos by poachers in the Kaziranga National Park. It is also equally disturbing that killings of rhinos as well as removal of its horns have become a regular feature in the KNP almost every year. It is high time the government of Assam, should publish a white paper on rhino poaching as early as possible. The united effort of the Forest department and public may solve the problem.
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Timely help saves tigers in Corbett
Efforts of Corbett National Park officials and the Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB) have helped save lives of at least three tigers of the Corbett National Park. According to officials of ministry of environment and forest, the park authorities received some information about dubious movements of a person from Bawariya tribe in a particular area following which they informed the WCCB. The particular area is home to three tigers of the park, officials said, adding that the person had been detained and was now in the judicial custody.
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CBI probe into rhino killings demanded
The All Assam Students' Union (AASU) will stage a Statewide protest on May 3 in protest against the spurt in rhino poaching. Reiterating that a CBI probe be initiated to get to the roots of the rhino poaching, the AASU said that Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain had proved to be totally incompetent in checking rhino deaths and Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi was turning a blind eye to the developments.