Shifting of rhinos at Dudhwa completed

LAKHIMPUR KHERI : Officials of Dudhwa National Park, World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) successfully completed the mission to translocate rhinos to newly developed rhino area-2 (RRA2) at Bhadi Tal in Belrayan range on Friday morning.

The mission started on April 10 during which the officials translocated four rhinos from the national park.

With this, the new rhino area in Dudhwa came to existence after 34 years, adding a new chapter in the history of Dudhwa wildlife conservation.

Mahavir Kaujlagi, deputy director of Dudhwa National Park and member of core team engaged in monitoring of the rhino shifting, said, “The whole operation has been successful.” He said, “A close monitoring over the shifted rhinos would be kept till they fully adapt to their new habitat and environment.”

The 80-member team which shifted one male and three female rhinos at Bhadi Tal included eminent rhino expert and former NTCA member-secretary Dr BS Bonal from Assam, field director, Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, Sunil Chaudhary’ deputy director Mahavir Kaujlagi, Dr. KK Sharma, head, Assam Veterinary College, Dr Amit Sharma, Dr Bhaskar, Terai Arc landscape incharge Dr Mudit Gupta, Fazlur Rahman, coordinator, Katarniaghat Foundation, among others.

DEOKANT PANDEY