GUWAHATI: In a recent Rhino population estimation in the Kaziranga National Park of Assam 200 more rhinos were found as compared to the number of rhinos found in the previous census.
At least 2613 one-horned rhinoceros including calves were counted following the recent census and in the last census carried out in 2018 at least 2413 rhinos were found in the world-famous Kaziranga National Park.
The 14th Rhino population census in Kaziranga National Park was carried out for 4 days starting on Friday 25 March and ending on Monday 28 March.
On the first day of the 4-day long exercise, training cum briefing was given to the enumerators by experts in the field to conduct the major census.
The main counting of the one-horned rhinoceros in the national park was done on Tuesday 26 March and Wednesday 27 March.
On the last day i.e. on Monday 28 March, a sample survey was conducted in 26 numbers compartments that were randomly selected.
A total of 252 frontline staff was directly involved in the process of counting the rhinos across different parts of Kaziranga National Park.
In the whole process, a total of 64 enumerators, 49 media observers and 12 independent observers actively participated in the success of the census to get an accurate count of rhinos.
However, the park official stated that the counting of rhinos this year was slightly affected because of the rainy weather prevailing in the region.
To cover all 84 compartments spread over the area of Kaziranga National Park including its additional areas and civil regions, a total of 50 elephants were deployed.
Moreover, for a better lookout throughout the major census, Binoculars and GPS were provided to the enumerators.
Most notably, drone technology was used for the first time to recheck samples and the computation of the collected data was done on Monday by a committee notified by the state's Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (PCCF) and Head of the Forest Force (Hoff).
The director of Kaziranga National Park, Jitendra Sarma said that the number of rhinos would have been more but due to the rain animals were barely out in open space where they could be seen or counted.
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