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The rising rhino numbers in West Bengal

Marcus Dam

KOLKATA: The rhinoceros population has grown in West Bengal’s Gorumara National Park. The same trend is thought to have occurred in the adjoining Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary, wildlife authorities say.

A census earlier this month revealed that the number of rhinos in the Gorumara Park had risen by four since the last count was made two years ago, taking the population to 31. The figure might not look significant, “but is good news” officials said.

“We expect a population increase of between 15 to 20 per cent at the Jaldapara Sanctuary where the number of rhinos was 108 according to a 2006 census,” Chief Conservator of Forest, Wildlife, Ujjal Bhattacharjya, said here on Tuesday. A census is to be done here in two months

The reason for the growth seen in Gorumara is a drop in cases of fights among male rhinos, which could in turn be attributed to the increase in the amount of space available for them to move about. Recently 6 sq km of grassland was added to the park’s area of 79 sq km. The wildlife authorities hope that this will prevent instances of one animal’s home range conflicting with another’s.

“The availability of more space will also prevent the animals straying out of the park and provide them additional grazing ground,” Mr. Bhattacharya said. But there is no immediate plan to increase the size of the Jaldapara Sanctuary that is spread over 216 sq km and where deaths from in-fighting among male rhinos averages two a year.

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