Thread by @KritikaRanjan6

Third post in the #WildlifeWeek series.

Day 3 - #Rhino resurgence in the #Terai !!

The Greater One-Horned #Rhinoceros is the second largest #mammal in #India after the #Elephant. Its distribution once ranged from the flood plains of the Indus to the Indo-Burmese border.
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However the loss of #grassland #habitat resulted in only a small population remaining in North East India and #Nepal.The species was totally extirpated from the Indian Terai in the 19th century, with the last rhino there being shot in the #Pilibhit Forest Division in 1878.
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Following this extirpation, #Dudhwa National Park was surveyed for its habitat suitability for the species and finally in 1984, the Addl. CWLW U.P was tasked to capture 6 rhinos from the #Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, #Assam by tranquilizing them.
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This was the first attempt of its kind in the whole world and in April, 1984 the first batch of rhinos set foot in Dudhwa National Park, making it the second home for the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros outside of North-East India.
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They were released into a 27 km² rhino reintroduction area (RRA) in the Kakraha block of south Sonaripur range. To prevent conflict and to assist their initial establishment in optimal habitat, the area was contained in an electrified perimeter.
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Then in 1985 four females were #relocated from Chitwan National Park, Nepal to DNP in order to maintain a diverse genetic pool and genetic variability in the reintroduced population. The rhinos acted as an umbrella species and helped other #herbivores flourish.
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The forest department and WWF ensured extensive monitoring of Rhinos by establishing a monitoring camp at Salukapur with dedicated elephants and trackers. Each rhino was identified, named and tracked regularly to ensure their safety.
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It is impossible to talk about Dudhwa Rhinos without talking about their patriarch 'Banke' who arrived as a young 15 year old bull in 1984 and dominated the scene till 2016. Most Rhinos in Dudhwa today are progenies of Banke.
PC - @ashoka_speaks
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In 2018, Phase 2 of the reintroduction program was launched with 4 rhinos being transported to another fenced area in the Belrayan range of the Park. They have since adapted well and 2 calves have been born in their new habitat.
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This success has emboldened the authorities to consider creating a third Rhino Rehabilitation area in the Katerniaghat range of the park. Today the rhino population in Dudhwa stands at 42 with zero poaching which is huge success for rhino conservation in the country.
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However the real trial by fire awaits them as plans are being made to release them from fenced enclosures into the open forests with radio collars around their necks. Once a free ranging population is established then this program can be called a success in the true sense.
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@moefcc @UpforestUp @rameshpandeyifs @ParveenKaswan @ranjeetnature @skumarias02 @WWFINDIA @DudhwaParkIndia @katerniaghat @hodilu @deba_dmj @debadityo #wildlife #wildindia #wildlifephotography #WildlifeWeek2022 #nature #Pobitorawildlifesanctuary #ChitwanNationalPark