Possibility of translocation of zoo rhinos into Valmiki TR, Champaran Bihar

 

                Possibility of translocation of zoo rhinos into Valmiki TR, Champaran Bihar

                                                            Dr SP Sinha,

The Task assigned was to find out the possibilities of zoo reared rhinos to be translocated from Patna zoo to Valmiki Tiger Reserve. The undersigned along with  Dr Sanjay Molour, Head, Zoo outreach, Coimbatore, visited Valmiki Tiger Reserve and the proposed rhino area flood plains of River Gandak on 19 and 20 April, 2014. During the visit interaction with Field Director, Valmiki Tiger Reserve and Range officers of respective ranges were held to collect information about the rhinos that came from Chitwan NP, Nepal.

During the field visit to proposed rhino area we found that the grasslands were confined to a narrow stripe in Madanpur range along the flood plan of river Gandak and adjacent areas with human settlements and a railway line passing through which bifurcate the grassland area in to two segments. Another factor which is important is that during the floods in monsoon entire grassland area gets submerged for 3-4 months in a year. This affects  the change in grass composition due to which there is possibility that the palatable grass species will be replaced by hardy species. Due to regular slit deposition weeds and woodland species are likely to take over the entire area and grassland areas might be converted to woodland areas. Based on the observation made in Dudhwa NP where in Sathiana Range the  grasslands faced the same problem of flooding of river Suheli and entire swamp deer population was wiped out within 5-7 years and similar condition persist in rhino area where hog deer habitat no more exists because of regular flood in river Suheli and river Sharda causing  changes in the grassland community as a result most of the palatable grass species preferred by rhinos and other herbivores turned into unpalatable grass species.

Main constraints for rhino translocation :

1.    Railway line – 6 km

2.    Eastern boundary dotted with villages

3.    18 km State Highway passes through the area

4.    Villages of UP along part of western boundary

5.    Madanpur village inside the proposed rhino habitat

6.     Area subjected to seasonal flooding (2-3ft water)

7.    Regular grazing by the large number of cattle’s inside the proposed rhino area in Valmiki Tiger. This can cause transmission of communicable diseases from domestic livestock’s to wild herbivores.

8.    Shortage of available fodder due to grazing by livestock and seasonal flooding

Four mortality cases took place from 2006 to 2013 when rhinos migrated from Chitwan NP to Valmiki Tiger Reserve. In all the cases rhinos died due train accident. Recently a sub-adult rhino was shifted from Valmiki Tiger Reserve to Patna zoo for treatment, unfortunately it died too.

While discussing over the proposal of translocation of zoo reared rhino in Valmiki Tiger Reserve with the Field Director it was felt that the above mentioned constraints need to be addressed before the translocation. Habitat wise Valmiki Tiger Reserve lies at the junction of Bhabhar and terai and quite close proximity to Jaldapara WLS which falls in Duars region. In Valmiki Tiger Reserve grasslands which can support rhino habitat lies along the boundary of river Gandak.

 In the past zoo reared rhinos were translocated in to wilderness of Dudhwa NP in wild population and in Gorumara NP and Jaldapara WLS. An adult male rhino was translocated to Dudhwa NP in 1992 from Lucknow Zoo and was severely attacked by lone bull and sent back to Kanpur zoo for treatment. Two sub-adult male rhinos were translocated from Guwahati zoo to Gorumara NP and Jaldapara WLS in 1996 and kept inside the electric fence and were repeatedly attacked by the dominating males and later were sent back to Kolkata zoo.

On 21 April, 2014 meeting took place in Patna Zoo chaired  by Forest Secretary, Bihar State, Principal Chief Conservator Forests and Chief Wildlife Warden, Bihar State, Chief Conservators forests & Wildlife, Field Director Valmiki Tigers Reserve, representatives from Wildlife Institute of India, Director Patna Zoo, Wildlife trust of India, Zoo outreach, IUCN, New Delhi, Assam Forest Department, Veterinary officers from Patna Zoo and representatives from Forest department Bihar  and invitees.

 

In the meeting past experiences were discussed and three groups  were formed to work out on following aspects:

1. Habitat Group

2. Source population

3. Liasoning Group

After detailed discussion in individual groups a draft was prepared and presented by individual team leaders. Later Principal Chief Conservator of Forests & Wildlife decided that a detailed proposal will be developed considering all the aspects and will be submitted by 10 May 2014 to CZA .

During the visit to Patna Zoo we found that adjacent to Golf ground a piece of land is with the zoo and can be used for young rhinos to rehabilitate like in wilderness before releasing into Valmiki Tiger Reserve. It was concluded that after proper landscaping the entire area can be developed as rhino habitat with water bodies and grass species preferred by rhino will be planted. A list of plant species eaten by rhinos was provided by me to PCCF (WL) and to the Director, Patna zoo. This area will be enclosed and kept free from human interferences. Rhinos will be monitored regularly over their activities and adaptation to this environment. If results are positive then these rhinos can be translocated into Valmiki Tiger Reserve in a fenced area.

Suesstions:

1. Marked areas which are frequently visited by rhinos across the India-Nepal border and assess the suitability.

2. Habitat improvement and eradication of weeds. Introduced animals itself alter the habitat to its favourable state in log run.

3. Once the habitat is improved with less intervention of anthropogenic pressure rhinos from different rhino areas can be introduced in the area.

4. Initially by considering the flood conditions areas should be marked by erecting electric fence for some year till rhinos get settled and start breeding.

Ecological requirements of potential areas for the re-introduction of Indian

Rhinoceros and established the following criteria:

 

• Diversity of Habitat, including flooded grasslands with a variety of food

Plants

 

• Ample shade and water bodies for wallowing and drinking especially in the

hot season.

 

Woodland areas to give thermal cover during severe frost conditions of winter months and during summer and also keep the newly born calf to give protection

 

• Protection from all forms of human disturbance and harassment, including

pollution, poaching and the introduction of disease via domestic stock. It is

equally important that conflict with cultivation adjacent to areas of reintroduction

be avoided, especially in view of rhino’s liking for crops such as

paddy and sugarcane.

 

• Translocation to an area which are not yet inhabited by rhinos, but the area

falls under the former range of rhino distribution in the past.

Basic requirements of food items preferred by rhinos are:

 

Grasses 10 species

Herbs and climbers 6 species

Hydrophytes 6 species

Shrubs and under shrubs 7 species

Trees 12 species

 

Rhinos generally prefer grasses like Saccharum spp., Cynodon dactylon, Arundo

donax, Polytoca digitata, Hygroryza aristata, Vetiveria zizanioides, Imperata cylindrica,

Themeda spp., Chrysopogen aciculatus, Puspalidum flavilum, Narenga porphyrocoma,

Phragmites karka, etc.

 

The preferred sedges like Cyperus spp.and herbs, shrubs and saplings of species

like Polygonum plebelium, Ageratum conyzoides, Erigeron spp., Artemesia nilagirica,

Eupatorium odoratum, Solanun spp., Colebrookia oppositifolia, Murraya koenigii,

Trewia nudiflora, Litsaea spp., Premna sp., etc.

 

They also prefer aquatic plants like Hydrilla verticillata, Vallisneria spirolis,

Hygroryza aristata, Potamogeton sp. and Trapa sp. etc. It is estimated that the rhino

population in Kaziranga takes about 77% grasses and 23% herbs and shrubs.

Wide range of materials eaten by rhinos suggests that the animal is not very

specific in its choice.