Observation of world Rhino Day, 2019

Description: World Rhino Day, 2019 World Rhino Day was celebrated on 23.09.2019 to raise awareness to protect Rhino. The program was organized by Field Director, Manas Tiger Project, WWF-India, MEWS in association with The Science Forum, B.H. College, Howly, Assam and the program was held at Seminar Hall, B. H. College, Howly at 12:30 PM. The students of Zoology (Major) and Botany (Major) participated actively in the program. The program started with a welcome speech by Manalisa Das, a B.Sc 3rd Sem (Zoology major) student, stating about importance of World Rhino Day. Later on, Dharani Dhar Boro, Dr. Debo Kr. Dutto, Babul Brahma, Kameshwar Baro, Nayan Jyoti Das, Bir Bahadur Lama and Dr. J. Biswas were felicitated with Phulam gamosa by the student members of B.H. College Science Forum. D.D Boro (Officer on SPI duty, Manas Tiger Project) delivered a short speech on the purpose and objectives of the program. He told that Rhino have the equal right to live in this world, but due to increase in human population, destruction of their habitats took place. If we lose one specie there is a great loss to our nature. So we should come together for the conservation and protection of Rhino. In Assam there are only 2 biosphere reserves : Dibrusaikhowa and Manas. In Manas there are 5 species of Rhino and they are Black Rhino, White Rhino, Javan Rhino, one horned Rhino, Sumatran Rhino. Out of them one horned Rhino is found only in Assam. Now, in Kaziranga almost more than 2000 Rhinoceros are found. Manas NP has 40 and Orang NP has 95 rhinoceros. He also said that we should come forward to stop destruction of our forest. By saving our Forests, we, Homo sapiens, can live on this Earth for the next thousand years. And he ended up his speech by giving advice to young generations to come forward and take initiatives to be national labour and save our forests and animals. Babul Brahma spoke a few initiative lines on Rhino conservation and wildlife monitoring system in Manas. He also emphasized on translocation. Later on Nayan Jyoti Das spoke on Eco-Social impact of Rhino Conservation in Manas (Eco-Tourism in Manas). The heritage of elephant capture, training and handling, culture of traditional Assamese elephant management, re-utilization of unemployed captive Asian Elephants occupy a special place in North-Eastern state of Assam. He also added that the community based Eco-Tourism in the national park provides the chance to explore the various employment options to the youths without leaving their own home. Bir Bahadur Lama spoke on Eco-Tourism development. Deba Kr. Dutto (Landscape Co-ordinator, WWF- India) spoke a few lines on the scope and prospects of research and career development in conservation of wildlife in connection to Manas National Park. He said about the diversity of Manas NP. More than 60 species of Mammals including more than 30 Schedule I species, over 400 species of Birds, more than 40 species of Reptiles, more than 8 species of Amphibians, over 60 species of Fishes, more than 250 species of Butterflies, 6 types of Forest found in Manas NP. He briefed about the Rhino Translocation that is initiated by the most ambitious conservation project IRV 2020 in Assam which will increase the existing Rhino population (~2200) in Assam to 3000 by the end of 2020. The lost Rhino population in Manas NP is being rebuilt by translocating Rhinos from other parts, wildlife sanctuaries, Kaziranga NP. It was observed that adult males settled in Manas NP 200 days in average and adult female settled 60 days after translocation. As per 100% MCP results, average home range of adult males was 156.6 km² and adult females was 90.24 km². There are 139 different species preferences observed among Rhinoceros in different seasons. Cynodon dactylon, Arundo donax, Imperata cylindrica, Saccharum spontaneum, grasses are maximum preferred species throughout the year. He interacted with students and ended with a line “The more you take responsibility for your past and present the more you are able to create the future you seek”. Dr. J. Biswas gave a short speech and discussed about the purpose of this program. The program was co-ordinated by Sushanta Kashyap Barthakur and Joyshree Roy a student of BSc. 5th sem Zoology (Major) offered the vote of thanks.