Rescued Rhino at CWRC Assam Wildlife Trust of India

"IFAW-WTI Team Rescues Wild Tiger From Well"

In a daring operation, an adult male tiger which had fallen into an open well, was rescued and released today by the forest department and the rescue team from International Fund for Animal Welfare and the Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI).

The tiger was noticed by local villagers yesterday morning in a well near Tezpur in the northern Indian Assam state and rescue team swung into action around midday when they were alerted by the forest officials. However, by the time they arrived at the site it had turned dark.

“We could reach the spot only by the evening and tried to rescue the tiger. But as it was getting dark, we had to abandon our attempts,” said Dr Abhijit Bhawal.

The operation was resumed this morning. Dr Prasanta Boro, veterinarian, Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), run by WTI and its partner International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW), sedated the tiger with a dart.

Following the sedation, Dr Bhawal along with Lakhiram Das, animal keeper at CWRC, entered the well and created a sling with a rope around the tiger’s body. A crane was then used to pull the tiger out of the well.

The tiger was checked for injuries, put into a cage and moved to Nameri National Park. It was released late in the evening.

“This was an amazing rescue,” an exhilarated Dr Boro said. “We had to cross through Jia Bhoroli river on boats; the tiger was waking up, growling and getting violent, which did not help our nerves in the least.”

The rescue team also included Satya Prakash Vashishth, Divisional Forest Officer of Tezpur, Mr Gogoi, Range Officer, Dilip Deori, Field Officer, WTI, veterinarians Parag Deka and Binay Barman, and other forest department staff.

Where the tiger came from was, however, a mystery. “We do not know exactly how it fell into the well, but there was no apron at the mouth, so I am not surprised,” Dr Boro said.

Rathin Barman, coordinator, WTI said, “There was flash flood in the Nameri National Park which is 30 kilometers away, just two days ago and 40% of the area was submerged. The tiger could have been displaced by the flood.”

"REUNITED ELEPHANT CALF SURVIVES IN WILD DESPITE DEFORMITY"

A displaced wild elephant calf that was reunited with its natal herd in Kaziranga National Park a month ago was sighted earlier last week, confirming successful reintegration. The sighting has pleasantly surprised conservationists who had doubts about its survival, as the calf has a congenital deformity in its leg.

The calf was rescued by the Assam Forest Department officials from a marsh near Roumari on December 3 last year. It was provided medical treatment for its injuries and reunited with its natal herd soon after.

Dr Phulmoni Gogoi, Wildlife Trust of India – International Fund for Animal Welfare (WTI-IFAW) veterinarian, said, “I had treated the calf for an abscess in its hindlimb. She also had a congenital deformity in the right hind leg stifle joint. She could not flex the leg fully and had a limping gait. Although, the forest officials had reunited her with her natal herd, we were doubtful of her survival.”

On Tuesday, the calf was sighted by Dr Prasanta Boro, veterinarian at the WTI-IFAW run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC). He was on his way to release a hog deer, when he saw the calf among its herd near Karasine Camp in Kohora Range.

“We hadn’t got any information on the calf after its reunion. I believed that it had been predated upon. But when I saw the pictures taken by Dr Boro, I knew it was her,” Dr Gogoi confirmed, adding that the calf would have to be ‘as lucky’ to reach adulthood.

"800 Openbill Storks Die In Assam As Nesting Tree Collapses"

In a freak accident, more than 800 Asian openbill storks, mostly chicks and juveniles, were killed as the banyan tree on which they were nesting collapsed on Monday night.

Sixty-one birds which survived were brought to IFAW-WTI run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation on Tuesday from Shilonijan in Karbi Anglong Autonomous District, where the incident happened.

Most of the admitted birds are chicks and fledglings. Many are severely injured, with fractures on the wings and legs,” said Dr Phulmoni Gogoi, CWRC veterinarian, during a brief break from a series of operations on the rescued birds.

“About 26 birds have succumbed to their injuries; condition of 12 of the remaining birds is critical,” said CWRC veterinarian, Dr Prasanta Boro.

Arup Ballav Goswami, Honorary Wildlife Warden, Karbi Anglong, said, “The incident occurred on Monday evening. There was no storm, so we are trying to find out how the tree broke all of a sudden. Local botanists have been contacted to determine the cause.”

According to speculations the tree could have broken because of a combined effect of the weight of the birds and weakening of the tree due to termite infestation.

Goswami added, “This is the breeding season for these birds so the casualty includes a lot of young birds. We did not see any eggs, but about 15 or 20 juvenile birds were found alive by the locals today. The birds are not able to fly yet. However, they are safe as they are being looked after by the locals.”

Openbill storks (Anastomus oscitans) are not a scheduled or threatened species and are widely distributed in South Asia.

"Rhino Treated For Injury In The Wild"

An adult one horned rhino was treated for an injury today in Kaziranga National Park. "The rhino was sighted by Forest Department personnel this morning in the Burapahar range; they noticed the injury and informed us," narrates Phulmoni Gogoi, WTI-IFAW veterinarian.

A team comprising veterinarians, Dr Phulmoni Gogoi (WTI-IFAW), Dr Bijoy Gogoi (Guwahati Zoo) and Assam Forest Department officials including the DFO, Kaziranga, and Rangers of Kohora and Burapahar ranges went to attend to the animal. The animal was sedated and treated. Initially, the wound was thought to be a bullet wound but on treatment it was identified to be an injury due to infighting, and the wound was still fresh. The whole operation took half an hour.

In addition to this incident, another case was attended to by Dr Rinku, who went to Nagoan Lanka range to rescue a one month old elephant calf. The calf was found alone, and had been abandoned near a railway line for the last two days. The herd was not traceable. "It has no external injury and appears normal," says Gogoi. The calf is currently under care at CWRC.

"Wild rhinos are back in Manas"

Three female greater one-horned rhinoceros were released in the wild from their temporary enclosure(boma) in Manas National Park in western Assam late last week.

The release successfully culminated the efforts of the Assam Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India - International Fund for Animal Welfare (WTI-IFAW) to "bring rhinos back to Manas", which began with the translocation of an individual from Kaziranga in January 2006. This was the first ever attempt to re-introduce the rhinos in Manas, which lost its 100 or so rhinos to poachers by the year 2000. Two more rhinos were translocated a year later and another in February this year.

Rescued as orphans displaced by floods in Kaziranga National Park, the rhinos were hand-raised by the WTI-IFAW run Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC), based near Kaziranga, before their translocation. In Manas, they were kept in a spacious 33 acre boma, to protect them from predators while they underwent gradual acclimatisation to the new environment.

Dr Rathin Barman, Co-ordinator, WTI, said, "Several meetings between rhino experts and government authorities were held to decide that the rhinos were ready for release, including the meeting of the Rhino Task Force of the Government of Assam held in September 2008. All three females are adults and have been acclimatised in Manas for more than a year. The release is a concrete attempt to re-establish the UNESCO world heritage site as a home range of the species."

The park authority made necessary arrangements on the security front, including alerting the field staff in all camps of the park for the protection of the rhinos.

A Swargiary, Director, Manas National Park, said, "The rhinos translocated by WTI-IFAW were ready for release as they had established their home range around the boma; this was confirmed through their defecation areas (which are localised in the species). We have revived all the anti-poaching camps inside as well as in the southern boundary of the park. Patrolling is going on day and night. The local youth from the bordering villages have been mobilised by the Bodoland Territorial Council to prevent poaching, for surveillance and information gathering. The security situation in Manas is rather good now, but we are not leaving our guard."

The boma gate was opened on November 27 following a pre-release assessment of the conditions in the park.

The rhinos had been radio-collared before their translocation to Manas. The radio-collars are now employed to track the movement of the rhinos for the necessary post-release monitoring. The released rhinos are being monitored continuously.

"The rhinos have not explored far away from the boma; the farthest they have ventured is less than 1 km from their former enclosure. They were acclimatised here and they consider the vicinity of the boma as their home. This was the idea behind restraining them in the enclosure, as this will prevent them from accidentally straying into human settlements, which could result in harm to themselves or to humans," added Dr Barman.

Meanwhile, the two male rhinos which were translocated under the wild to wild release of 'Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020)' were subsequently also put in the enclosure and are being held at the boma, expected to be released soon.

MC Malakar, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests (Wildlife) and Chief Wildlife Warden, Assam, happy with the status of the recently released rhinos said, "The habitat in Manas is ready for the release of rhinos. This has also been determined by the Habitat Assessment Group and Security Assessment Group set up under the IRV 2020, an initiative of the Department of Forests and Environment, Government of Assam assisted by WWF and various other NGOs. Rhino re-population in Manas is a collaboration of various agencies; being implemented both by rehabilitating rescued or displaced rhinos, as in the current Wildlife Trust of India aided release, and also by wild to wild translocation, as with the males which were brought from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. The IRV 2020 aims to reintroduce the species in previously rhino bearing areas and also increase the population of rhinos in Assam to 3000 by the year 2020."

"Tiger in the well !!"

Wednesday began as a normal day for us at the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) run by International Fund for Animal Welfare- Wildlife Trust of India (IFAW-WTI). We went about our daily tasks of feeding and tending to our resident patients. I had been called to nearby Kohora to look at an injured wild elephant in the afternoon and had just returned, when the phone rang. It was 4 pm.

Vashishth Sir (Satya Prakash Vashishth, Divisional Forest Officer, Tezpur) was on the line. His voice was sombre, and instinctively I knew that this was a rescue call. He told me that a tiger was trapped in an abandoned well in Baruah Chuburi village near Tezpur and that he needed help in rescuing it.

It was a two-hour drive from CWRC in Kaziranga to Tezpur and the first thing that crossed my mind was that we had to move fast. I and my colleagues began our preparation immediately. We assembled the tranquilising equipment, a cage and a vehicle to translocate the tiger back to its natural habitat.

I knew that it would be a difficult task and that I needed experienced people to help me. Amidst the rush, I called up Dr Ashraf (Director, WTI) in Delhi. Following his suggestion, I spoke to Dr Abhijit Bhawal (WTI veterinarian) who was in Guwahati then. To my relief, he was free and was more than willing to assist.

I left CWRC with Lakhiram and Mahadev (animal keepers) with necessary equipment and supplies. Dr Parag Deka, veterinarian, Pygmy Hog Conservation Programme received us at Tezpur to take us to the site where the tiger was trapped. We reached Baruah Chuburi at around 9 pm. It is a small village about 30 kms from the busy town of Tezpur, which also has an air force base. As the crow flies the Nameri National Park would be just 10 kms away.Hundreds of people had gathered in the area. As I approached the crowd, I realised that the Central Reserve Police Force (CRPF) had been deployed to contain it. The CRPF and the civil administration staff had efficiently cordoned off the well where the tiger was trapped. I was excited and little nervous at the same time. Vashishth Sir, Rajesh Sir (Rajesh Prasad, Deputy Commissioner, the head of Tezpur district administration), local veterinarian Dr Binay Barman, and other officials were already there. Abhijit and Dilip Deori, Field Officer, WTI, reached later in the evening.

The unused well was at the edge of the village and its mouth was overgrown with grass, which must have fooled the tiger. There was a slush of water and mud at 12 feet. It had a swamplike feel and tiger which must have fallen in yesterday night was struggling to keep afloat. It must have made several attampts to claw up the wall but had slipped down and was now lying stretched out and exhausted. It was covered with mud that it had churned while attempting to escape. Seeing this majestic animal looking so helpless was heart-breaking.

We could not sex it then, but could plainly see that this guy was big, really big! I just looked at it and thought, can’t let him drown, just can’t let him die in a well of all places.

We surveyed the well and had a quick strategy meeting. We all agreed that the animal looked active and healthy and we had simply to sedate it and lift it out. However, our problem was the swamplike condition in the well. It would have been criminal if we sedated the tiger and then seen it drown in front of our eyes. However, we were also not sure if it would survive another night in those conditions. We therefore decided to take a shot and missed. But this was just as well for it was getting dark and it would have been difficult to lift the tiger out in the night even though the area had been well lit. We decided to postpone the operation till the next day. As the police kept a cordon around the area, a team was left to keep a close watch on the animal.

The following day, we resumed the operation at around 8.30 am. The tiger now looked more exhausted and was stuck in almost the same position as the last night. I had prepared six darts; the tiger was hit by the third and the fourth. We waited for about 15 minutes for the drugs to calm it. To confirm that the tiger was indeed asleep, we gently nudged it with bamboo poles. So far the operation had gone as planned.

We now needed volunteers to enter the well to fix the sling around the tiger. Clearly no one was eager to go in. Suppose the tiger woke up while the sling was being put in place.

Finally, Abhijit Bhawal, agreed to go in first, and I was glad that he was there. It was indeed very brave of him to enter the tiger's den (literally)! CWRC animal keeper, Lakhiram followed Abhijit, and together they fixed the sling around the tiger's bulky body. A crane was then used to slowly pull the tiger out. During this process, to our horror, the tiger seemed to be opening its eyes and waking up. Its instincts were reacting to people. This was a dangerous situation with so many spectators around. I quickly gave it another dose of sedatives and it went back to sleep with a gentle moan like a puppy!

We first hosed it to clean the mud and yes it was a big male weighing over 200 kg. We put it in the cage and did a thorough examination for injuries. It appeared healthy. We then implanted a microchip (00065DB23C) for future identification.

The authorities had discussed the matter with Bonal Sir (BS Bonal, Principal Chief Conservator of Forests) and had decided to release the tiger in Potasali Range of the nearby Nameri National Park from where it was perhaps displaced by the flash flood that submerged Nameri a few days ago.

The journey to Potasali camp took us about two hours, and was not without excitement. The tiger was behind us in the cage, and our hearts froze with every movement it made. We stopped the truck periodically to check the condition of the tiger.

We reached Potasali around 2 pm and had to wait for the boats, to cross the Jia Bhoroli river (called Kameng in Arunachal Pradesh) to reach the forest. This side, where the range office is situated, had human settlements.

The cage was large and two boats had to be joined with wooden planks to create a platform large enough for the cage. The loading began at 4 pm. By this time almost 7 hours had passed and the drug was wearing off. We covered the cage with a black tarpaulin to keep the tiger calm, before pushing off from the river bank.

The tiger could not see us but it could definitely sense our presence. It occasionally loudly growled which did not help our nerves in the least.

Jia Bhoroli had experienced flash floods only a few days ago. Although the water level had decreased, the water current was fairly strong. A freak accident could have been disastrous for all of us.

Fortunately, 15 minutes later, we were on the other side of the river… safe. Though, for how long, we couldn't say. Now was the time to open the cage. We were not sure how the tiger would react following its release.

We selected the release site along the bank and tried to open the cage door from a distance using a bamboo pole. But it did not work.

Now, it was my turn to volunteer. I had to open the cage door and let the tiger loose. I climbed on to the cage as quietly as possible so as to not disturb the tiger. After pulling up the door and locking it in that position, I hurried back to the boat half expecting the tiger to pounce on me. As i jumped on it the boatmen rapidly rowed it away from the bank.

Lucky for me, the tiger exited the cage five minutes later when we were 20 metres away from the bank, grateful and confident for the first time that the tiger's ordeal would end on a happy note.

Before departing, the tiger gave us a good long stare. I believe it was a thank you.

It was late and we spent the night at the range office. The next morning, the forest department staff reported sighting the tiger's pugmarks at the bank near its release site. I cannot help but ponder upon the possible reasons for its return. It probably was thirst!

It was the most exciting and satisfying rescue of my life. The success, doubtless, was an outcome of the unified efforts of all team members, including the Forest Department with its prompt and effective actions, CWRC with its preparedness for such emergencies, and CRPF and the civil authorities with their effective crowd control capabilities.

We can now afford to joke about this:

Ding dong bell...
Tiger in the well...
Who pulled it out?
Dr Abhijit stout!

"Dibru - Saikhowa National Park"

Dibru - Saikhova is the largest national park of Assam, spread over an area of 650 sq. km. It is located at about 13 kms north of Tinsukia town and about 515 kms from Guwahati and is bounded by the Brahmaputra river and Arunachal hills in the north and Dibru and Patkai hills on the south. This was declared a wildlife Sanctuary in 1986 by the government of Assam by uniting two Reserve forest, viz., Dibru and Saikhowa including some other areas. It was elevated to the National Park status in 1999 restricting its core area to 340 sq. km. with a large buffer zone.

Dibru Saikhowa National Park is one of the 19 (nineteen) biodiversity hotspots in the world. It mainly consists of semi wet evergreen forests, tropical moist deciduous forest, bamboo, cane brakes and grasslands. Situated in the flood plains of Brahmaputra, at an altitude of 118 m above sea level, Dibru-Saikhowa is a safe haven for many extremely rare and endangered species of wild life including over 300 avifauna both endangered and migratory, as well as various species of shrubs, herbs and rare medicinal plants.

Though the park was primarily meant for the conservation of Whitewinged wood duck in its natural habitat, it is also the famous for its bright coloured wild hWhite winged wood duckorses known as Feral Horses.

Some rare and endangered animals of this sanctuary are Hoolock gibbon, capped langur, slow loris, water buffalo, tiger, elephant, gangetic river dolphin
etc. Bird life consists of Spot billed pelican, White bellied heron, Pallah's fishing eagle, Pale capped pigeon, Swamp francolin etc. and migratory birds like Geyleg goose, Brahmini duck, Bar-headed goose, pelican, Black stork etc.

Permission is required for entry into the park. Guijan Ghat (10km from Tinsukia) and Saikhowa ghat are the two entry points for tourists. Entry before sunrise and after sunset as well as night halt and picnicking inside the Park is not allowed. There are two forest villages Dhadia and Laika inside the park.

"Assam Tourism Boasts Of Wildlife - But Not Facilities"

Allan Hully, a British tourist, was excited when he arrived at Manas National Park. He was hoping to spend a adventurous week in the wilderness but ended up winding off his trip a few hours after he arrived here.

'The facilities, especially accommodation, at Manas are simply awful,' Hully said. The tiger reserve is located 180 km west of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

Like Hully, domestic tourists also rue the poor lodging facilities at Manas, especially in the government-run accommodation at the scenic Mathanguri, 22 km inside the park. Lack of basic infrastructure and poor maintenance at the tiger reserve has left tourists frustrated at a time when the state is trying its best to promote wildlife tourism.

'There is just one government accommodation at Mathanguri where tourists would starve if they do not bring in their own provisions. Even for a cup of tea you need to bring tea leaves, milk and sugar,' said V. Mukherjee, a tourist from Mumbai.

'How can the government try to market tourism destinations if they cannot provide basic facilities like two meals, a proper bed with linens and a clean toilet? Most of the times the generator at the lodge does not have diesel to run and one has to manage with lanterns,' lamented a Assam police official who visited the park.

Tarun Bora, a retired Assam government official, 'People are ready to pay for a comfortable stay but the authorities are not bothered about providing basic infrastructure.'

Moreover, the wildlife invariably gets disturbed with trucks and private vehicles from adjoining Bhutan allowed through the park to transport goods.

'About 30 to 40 Bhutanese vehicles, including big trucks, pass through the park daily. There are some districts in landlocked Bhutan that requires travelling through Assam and hence Bhutanese vehicles are allowed to move through the park area,' a forest official said.

'Due to frequent movement of vehicles, animals generally tend to remain deep inside the park and hence visitors hardly get to see the wildlife,' he added.

Manas is home to 22 of the 41 endangered wildlife species listed in India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, including the rare pygmy hogs, the golden langur, tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, and wild Asiatic elephants.

According to the last census, there are some 65 tigers in Manas. For about 13 years until 2003, the park was in the grip of heavily armed militants and poachers who hunted wildlife.

According to official figures, up to 200 animals were mercilessly slaughtered inside Manas in the past 15 years, either by tribal Bodo militants for food or by organised poaching gangs who hunted wildlife.

The situation was so grim that Unesco in 1992 listed Manas as a World Heritage Site in Danger.

"Indian Army Claims To Protect The Wildlife Of Assam"

The increase in the number of killing of rhinos by the poachers is a matter of great concern for the people of Assam. The failure of the forest department to preserve the wildlife and to protect the world famous one horned rhinos from the poachers has compelled the Assam government to seek the assistance of Indian Army. Therefore a memorandum of understanding was signed between the state government and the army in this regard in the month of June. Accordingly the eight brigades of army scattered all over the Assam will conduct operation in various wildlife reserves and national parks of Assam such as Nameri, Orang, Pabitora, Manah, Sonai, Rupai, Kaziranga etc. to protect the wildlife from falling prey to the poachers and to ceck the encroachments in these forest reserves. For this army has formed a special wildlife brigade. Such operations will be conducted under a Brigadier rank officer of the army. Army will also assist the forest department to implement various sections of Wildlife Protection Act. The operations in Kaziranga National Park will be conducted by the army brigade stationed at Jorhat.

"Re - Birth For Assam's Wildlife"

Kaziranga and Manas national parks are helping endangered herbivores survive. But about 800 Asian open-bill storks, nestling on a 200-year-old ‘sacred’ banyan tree, adjoining a Buddhist monastery at Banglung village in Karbi Anglong district, died as the tree crashed on September 15. The tree apparently could not take the weight of the birds.

On Sunday, the villagers performed a mass funeral for the birds, which they believed were Banglung’s guardian angels.

“The banyan tree’s crash and the deaths were ominous for the villagers,” said wildlife warden AB Goswami.

Meanwhile, villagers near the flood-hit Kaziranga National Park helped rescue at least half a dozen swamp and hog deer.

“Saving some animals would have been impossible without the villagers,” said state forest chief MC Malakar.

"Assam WildLife - Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park"

"KAZIRANGA NATIONAL PARK"

Assam is synonymous with the picturesque Brahmaputra Valley and the Kaziranga National Park, which is home to the Indian one-horned rhino. This park is so rich in bio-diversity that it has been declared a UNESCO Heritage Site. You can also see the wild buffalos, large herds of elephants, several types of deer, hoolock gibbons, and the rare tiger, if you are lucky.

An elephant-back safari on the banks of the Brahmaputra is a must and it is also the best way to observe the rhinos from extremely close range. The lush greenery all around you and the enormous river, which is so wide that you cannot see the other bank, is an experience you will never forget. Birdwatchers also have a field day here as the park has over 300 species of birds, including the rare Bengal Florican.

How to get to Kaziranga:
Nearest airport: Guwahati or Jorhat
Nearest station: Jorhat - taxis and buses available from there.
By road: Take the NH37 from Guwahati or Jorhat.

When to go:
Nov to Apr.

"MANAS NATIONAL PARK"

This is another beautiful National Park of Assam on the north bank of the Brahmaputra. Tragically due to rampant poaching the rhinos have become extinct here. The tiger population is quite high, however, and you can also see the rare golden langur, hispid hare, red panda, wild buffalo, hog deer and other deer species. It is also an excellent place for bird watching.

Apart from wildlife watching you can also visit the neighbouring tea estates, visit Bodo villages where you can shop for handicrafts and see folk dances, and go for boat rides on the Manas river.

How to get to Manas:
Nearest airport: Guwahati ( 5hrs road journey from here).
Nearest station: Barpeta - taxis and buses available from there.
By road: Take the NH31 from Guwahati.

When to go:
Nov to Apr.

"Tigers Death - Kazaringa"

Nine big cats have died at Assam's Kaziranga National Park in the past three months, but wildlife authorities in the state say the tigers were not victims of poachers.

The National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA), a statutory body under the Ministry of Environment and Forests, had warned about poachers on the prowl and asked for strict vigil to ensure tigers are not hunted down.

"There have been intelligence inputs that tiger killers are on the prowl," the NTCA said.

Assam wildlife authorities confirmed the tiger deaths, although they rejected NTCA's fears that the fatalities were due to poaching.

"Of the nine tiger deaths at Kaziranga, not a single big cat was killed by poachers. Three died of old age, one each died in cases of infighting, poisoning by local villagers, fights with buffaloes, besides three decomposed bodies found," said Assam's Chief Wildlife Warden M.C. Malakar.

"If it would have been a case of poaching, the hunters would have taken the skin and other organs. But in all the nine deaths, the body parts of the tigers were intact," he said.

The 430 sq km park, 220 km east of Assam's main city Guwahati, is home to the single largest population of the one-horned rhinoceros.

As per the 2006 census figures, some 1,855 of the world's estimated 2,700 such herbivorous beasts lumber around the wilds of Kaziranga.

Apart from being a World Heritage Site, Kaziranga is also a tiger reserve under the Project Tiger scheme.

According to a 2000 census, Kaziranga was home to about 86 Royal Bengal tigers. The Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII)'s 2008 country-wide status of tigers pegged the figure in Assam at 70.

"We strongly believe the number of tigers at Kaziranga has increased from the last count in 2000," the wildlife warden said.

At present only 1,400 tigers are left in the country, according to a recent census conducted by WII, which has led to concern among wildlife conservation groups and the government.

"Breaking The Fall - Conserving Openbill Storks In Arrearjhar, Assam"

As the monsoon ends, the few hundred Openbill stork nests on the canopy of the sal trees of Arrearjhar area near Chakrashila Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam come alive with new hatchlings. However, the change in the rain pattern and extremities of weather recorded last year deceived the birds into laying their eggs at a wrong time resulting in the hatchlings emerging under unfavourable conditions, drastically increasing their mortality.

Following a heavy downpour on October 7 last year, more than 50 dead chicks and some damaged eggs were reported. The predominant reason for the death of chicks was the fall and the resultant trauma. Lack of care for the injured chicks, predation by stray dogs and opportunistic hunting were other reasons. Listed under schedule IV of the Wildlife Protection Act (1972), Openbill storks are commonly found in Assam but this incident of mass mortality threatened the local population of Arrearjhar, prompting the forest department and the local villagers to undertake urgent steps for its protection. To prevent any further incidence of mortality of the chicks due to the fall, immediate intervention was required.

Sonali Ghosh, DFO Social Forestry and Wildlife Division, Kokrajhar, proposed a Rapid Action Project (RAP) to the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), which was immediately approved because of its urgency. Two chicks Lone and Don (as named by the local villagers) were thus rescued and later rehabilitated under this RAP.

The RAP aimed at a holistic approach towards the protection of the Openbill stork population. Twelve safety nets were placed in two layers below 21 nesting trees to catch the falling birds. Lone and Don were rescued by these nets on 22 and 18 October respectively. A rearing centre was constructed out of local materials like bamboo and mats to harbour them until they were ready for release. A water trough with small quantities of live fish placed at regular intervals permitted the birds to independently and instinctively hunt for food. Regular monitoring was conducted by bird experts to keep a track on the progress of the birds’ efforts to fly.

Conservation awareness programmes to sensitise the local villagers on related issues were also organised. Their attention was also drawn by their direct or indirect participation in the rehabilitation by way of providing local material for the preparation of nets and the construction of the rescue centre.

The project was implemented by Arrearjhar Joint Forest Management Committee (JFMC) with technical support from Dr Hiloljyoti Singha, who had conducted a similar rehabilitation programme on greater adjutant storks in Nagaon district in Assam. Before the soft release of the birds began on December 9 at Dheer Beel, a foraging ground for open bill storks, Dr Singha, assisted by Dr Prabhat Basumatary of WTI ringed the birds for later identification and post-release monitoring.

Lone and Don during the release made unsuccessful attempts to fly long-distance, and so, had to be returned to the rearing centre, even as the wild birds approached them, as if to welcome them. Back in the centre, their roof covering was removed. For sometime after that, they continued to socialise with the wild population during the day while returning to the security of the centre at night before giving in to their inherent wild instincts and returning to the wild permanently.

Conservationists believe that unless absolutely required, conservation experiments should be carried out on species of lesser conservation value before being tried on the endangered species. Regardless, the proven effectiveness of this low-cost method to provide emergency relief will continue to make its impact in securing the Openbill stork population of Arrearjhar, as the team of well-prepared implementers stay in wait confidently for the next nesting season.

"Wildlife/ Birding Itinerary"

Assam wildlife/ birding itinerary is a very talked about topic with tourists and sightseers alike. The gateway to the mystic northeastern frontiers abounds in dense forests, wildlife sanctuaries and national parks. Quite naturally, these wildlife tours are a rage with tourists.

Assam wildlife's claims to fame lie in the two legendary UNESCO World Heritage Sites of Kaziranga National Park and the Manas National Park. Kaziranga is the natural habitat of the near extinction Great Indian one horned rhino. Manas National Park, on the other hand is a picturesque reserve lying a the junction of the jungle-clad Himalayan foothills and the Manas River is one of the nine elite Tiger Reserve Projects in the country that are committed to protecting the endangered national animal, the Royal Bengal Tiger.

Apart from these celebrated sanctuaries, there are several other national parks and wildlife sanctuaries in Assam that are idyllic zones of beauty and quietude. Nameri and Orang (Rajiv Gandhi) National Park are a natural paradise that house a plethora of wild animals that include tigers, leopard cats, jungle cats, elephants, sloth bears, Indian bison, swamp deer, sambhars, hog deer, hog badgers, capped langurs, hollock gibbons, pythons, pigs, jackals, and porcupines.

Apart from the animals, Assam's prized possessions are the exotic species of birds that are housed in the following sanctuaries:

* Panidihing Bird Sanctuary, Sibsagar
* Deeporbeel Bird Sanctuary, Guwahati
* Bordoibam bilmukh bird sanctuary, lakhimpur, Dhemaji

These sanctuaries contain a wonderful collection of exotic birds that mostly include domestic as well as migratory birds like kingfishers, fishing eagles, adjutant storks and ducks to name a few.

The state's tourism and forestry department have also introduced several; comprehensive packages and sightseeing tours that fall under the Assam Wildlife/ Birding Itinerary. These tours, although have a hectic itinerary are very much in vogue with nature lovers and birdwatchers for the wonderful world of natural delights.

"Kaziranga Could Face Elimination From New 7 Wonders Of Nature Race"

Three Indian nominees, including the famed Kaziranga National Park, could face elimination on technical grounds from the list of more than 260 destinations around the world vying for the distinction of becoming one of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

Among the 261 nominees from across the world competing for one of the coveted New 7 Wonders of Nature are the Kaziranga National Park in Assam, the Ganga river, and the Sundarbans delta, the largest mangrove forest in the world.

This nominee (Kaziranga National Park) is not yet officially supported. Without an official supporting committee (OSC), a nominee cannot participate in the next stages of the New 7 Wonders of Nature campaign,' said a posting on the official website of the New 7 Wonders of Nature.

The same is the case with the Sunderbans, while the applicant for the formation of an OSC for the Ganga does not fulfil all the New 7 Wonders of Nature requirements.

According to norms set up by the New 7 Wonders of Nature for the second phase of voting, the nominees should have an OSC that is authorized by a legitimate national, regional, or local government, with responsibility for the nominee location. In cases of most of the nominees of other countries, the local government or organisations recommended by the government acted as their OSC.

It is a shame that even after Kaziranga was listed among the 261 nominees for the 7 Wonders of Nature, our state government or wildlife conservation groups failed to take any initiative to fulfil the technical formalities,' Shankar Prasad Rai, president of the influential All Assam Students' Union (AASU), told IANS.

Assam wildlife authorities were simply unaware about the procedures and feigned ignorance about the rules.

If such a formality was required we would do it,' a senior Assam wildlife official said in response to a query by IANS.

The Assam government has put out newspaper advertisements seeking people's support to vote online to help Kaziranga get into the top seven wonders of nature, although they were not aware of the technical requirements for the nominee to be in the race.

And if the formalities are not completed, then Kaziranga, along with the Ganga and the Sunderbans, would be eliminated on technical grounds July 7 when voting closes for the second phase. The next short list, comprising 77 contenders, will face an expert panel July 7, who will cut the list down to 21 by July 29.

The Assam government should depute some officials to complete the formalities immediately and then think of the next stage on how best to create awareness for people to vote online,' Bibhav Kumar Talukdar, secretary general of Aaranayak, a noted wildlife conservation group working in Kaziranga, said.

The international public will vote to determine the top seven wonders from the list of 21 finalists, which will be announced in the middle of 2011.

We shall do everything possible to create awareness and we hope people of Assam and the world would vote for Kaziranga,' Assam Chief Minister Tarun Gogoi said.

The campaign, led by Swiss adventurer Bernard Weber, aims to promote cultural diversity by supporting, preserving, and restoring monuments and natural sites.

And if Kaziranga gets eliminated, the onus would squarely fall on the Assam government and the wildlife NGOs for failing to take any initiative,' the AASU president said.

Assam tourism boasts of wildlife - But not facilities

Manas (Assam), Dec 29 (IANS) Allan Hully, a British tourist, was excited when he arrived at Manas National Park. He was hoping to spend a adventurous week in the wilderness but ended up winding off his trip a few hours after he arrived here.

'The facilities, especially accommodation, at Manas are simply awful,' Hully said. The tiger reserve is located 180 km west of Assam's main city of Guwahati.

Like Hully, domestic tourists also rue the poor lodging facilities at Manas, especially in the government-run accommodation at the scenic Mathanguri, 22 km inside the park. Lack of basic infrastructure and poor maintenance at the tiger reserve has left tourists frustrated at a time when the state is trying its best to promote wildlife tourism.

'There is just one government accommodation at Mathanguri where tourists would starve if they do not bring in their own provisions. Even for a cup of tea you need to bring tea leaves, milk and sugar,' said V. Mukherjee, a tourist from Mumbai.

'How can the government try to market tourism destinations if they cannot provide basic facilities like two meals, a proper bed with linens and a clean toilet? Most of the times the generator at the lodge does not have diesel to run and one has to manage with lanterns,' lamented a Assam police official who visited the park.

Tarun Bora, a retired Assam government official, 'People are ready to pay for a comfortable stay but the authorities are not bothered about providing basic infrastructure.'

Moreover, the wildlife invariably gets disturbed with trucks and private vehicles from adjoining Bhutan allowed through the park to transport goods.

'About 30 to 40 Bhutanese vehicles, including big trucks, pass through the park daily. There are some districts in landlocked Bhutan that requires travelling through Assam and hence Bhutanese vehicles are allowed to move through the park area,' a forest official said.

'Due to frequent movement of vehicles, animals generally tend to remain deep inside the park and hence visitors hardly get to see the wildlife,' he added.

Manas is home to 22 of the 41 endangered wildlife species listed in India's Wildlife (Protection) Act, including the rare pygmy hogs, the golden langur, tigers, one-horned rhinoceros, and wild Asiatic elephants.

According to the last census, there are some 65 tigers in Manas. For about 13 years until 2003, the park was in the grip of heavily armed militants and poachers who hunted wildlife.

According to official figures, up to 200 animals were mercilessly slaughtered inside Manas in the past 15 years, either by tribal Bodo militants for food or by organised poaching gangs who hunted wildlife.

The situation was so grim that Unesco in 1992 listed Manas as a World Heritage Site in danger.