Rhino area extension project kicks off at Dudhwa

“After visiting the area around a month ago,the NTCA officials issued an advisory for the scientific study of the area for the reintroduction plan,” said a senior forest department official.

Currently,the WII specialists are conducting a survey in the Bhadi Puraina forest reserve where the second phase of the rhino rehabilitation project is expected to take place.

The vegetation,grassland,wetland and woodland for the rhino habitat will also be delved into. “On the basis of the survey,the area limit which is now being proposed is 21 kms. Earlier,only 12 kms was proposed,” said PP Singh,Deputy Director of the park.

“The WII will submit the report by the end of monsoon. The area needs to be extended according to the population and it will also take care of the possible problems related to inbreeding. The instructions to begin with the second phase of the project were sent by the NTCA last month,” said BK Patnaik,Chief Widlife Warden,Uttar Pradesh.

Currently,the 27 sq km area park has a population of 28 rhinos. While there are 15 females,there are only 7 male rhinos and 6 calves. The rhinos were brought in from Assam and Nepal. “Since the population of male rhinos is less,we are planning to bring in more male rhinos from other areas. The extended area will also help us tackle the problem of inbreeding,” said Patnaik.