State to release two rhinoceros at Patlakhawa in North Bengal

Kolkata: The state Forest department will release two rhinoceros at Patlakhawa in North Bengal sometime in the second week of December. Work for readying the third habitat for the one-horned rhinos is in its last phase and the date for the official relocation will be finalized soon.

The area that has been developed is around 4 square metre and to begin with two rhinos from Jaldapara will be relocated .

This third home has been developed for balancing the rhino population that have increased by leaps and bounds both at Jaldapara and Gorumara National Park in North Bengal.

In 1982-83 there were only 18 rhinos in the two forests. However as per the last census, the total rhino population has gone up to 291. Jaladapara has 239 rhinos while Gorumara has 55. Bengal has the second highest population of rhinoceros after Assam.

The state government had taken more than two years for developing the infrastructure of the area that included boundary of the habitat, grassland improvement , setting up of watch towers, deployment of security staff, construction of staff quarters and training of staff.

"The biggest challenge was procurement of drugs that are used for tranquilising the animals during their relocation. The drugs needed to be imported from South Africa and the entire process is complicated and time consuming. We have been able to sort out everything," said Ravi Kant Sinha, state Chief Wildlife Warden.

Another major aspect was specialised training for the veterinary doctors for handling the animals in an efficient and professional manner. The department had send two of its doctors for specialized training at Indian Veterinary Research Institute in Bareilly, Uttar Pradesh and they have already come back after completion of training.

The Patlakhawa forest has a large wetland and was once a game reserve of the Koch dynasty that had ruled Cooch Behar. 100 years back rhinos used to exist there but with river Torsa changing its course the area was cut off and later the highway came up in and around the forest.

"We have plans to shift six rhinos in phases at Patlakhawa from both Gorumara and Jaldapara," Sinha added.

The Rasik Bill at Cooch Behar is being developed for ecotourism and with Patlakhawa becoming a rhino habitat , tourism in the area is expected to receive a big boost.