Payel Halder, Mumbai Uncensored, 10th February, 2023:
Actor Leonardo DiCaprio has expressed his support for the Assam government’s efforts in preventing the poaching of one-horned rhinoceros in 2022. This achievement, which has not happened since 1977, was celebrated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi and other environmentalists globally.
DiCaprio shared his thoughts in an Instagram post, stating that in 2021, the government of Assam set a goal to end the spawning of the endangered Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park. This was in response to the killing of approximately 190 animals for their horns between 2000 and 2021. The actor praised the government for successfully achieving their goal in 2022 and reported that no rhinos were poached in the area.
He also pointed out that Kaziranga National Park is home to 2,200 rare Rhinos, accounting for about two-thirds of the world’s population. The actor also shared positive news from the @wwf (World Wildlife Fund), reporting that the world population of the rhino had increased from 200 at the turn of the 20th century to around 3,700 today.
In 2021, the Assam government made a farm move to put an end to rhino poaching and ensure the safety of all wildlife in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is also affected by annual burnings. The state’s Chief Minister, Himanta Biswa Sharma, conducted a review meeting and decided to establish a special task force, led by a special director general, to tackle the issue of rhino horn poaching and smuggling.
Wildlife photographer Jayanta Guha @jayantaguha_wildlife, shared his insight on the initiative taken by the Assam government –
“I have been visiting Kaziranga National Park on Regular basis for the last 3-4 Years for Wildlife photography. There are many Anti-Poaching camps created to stop the Poaching of One Horned RHino and other precious wild animals. Even in the jungle, you can see some forest guards standing with rifles to protect the jungle from pochards. They are working day and night for animal safety. Another good part of Kaziranga National Park is Highland. Every year many animals died because of heavy floods or they moved to the opposite side of the road to highland. But, now there are many Highlands created by the forest department where animals can stay in rainy seasons, June to September.
Regarding Poaching, I have talked to the Forest workers in Anti Poaching camp near Malani. They said, “Abhi to poaching nehi hota hain, pehle hota tha.” (Now there is no poaching happening, it used to be).
I really appreciate the initiative Assam Forest Department has taken.”
