Rhino poaching in one of the major environmental issues in India,which continues unabated in certain parts of Assam.The one-horned rhinoceros was originally widespread in Indo-Gangetic plains.Its population has declined considerably in the 20th and 21st century due to illegal poaching and trade.Today,hardly they are numbered 2500 in India.The Kaziranga national park,Orang national park in Darrang and Pobitora wild-life sanctuary in Morigaon constitute almost 95 percent of the one-horned rhinoceros found in the world.Owing to its declining population,the IUCN Red List has categorised it as vulnerable species in its list of threatened species.
Recently.some scholars had recommended dehorning of rhinoceros as a possible alternative to contain the menace of illegal poaching.Dehorning may sound as a credible option,per se,but it will have serious unintended ramifications.First,it amounts to a tacit admission by the state that it is helpless against notorious poachers and unauthorised forces.The poachers,in utter desperation,would search frantically for other measures like poaching of tigers for its nail,hides and skin.
Second,there is no guarantee that the horns of rhinos would be safe in the custody of state after dehorning it.The collusion between bureaucrats,politicians and illegal traders may create yet another problem so as to ensure its safety.Instead,the diligent monitoring of the movement of rhinoceros with its horn intact would be doubly effective in controlling the menace of rhino poaching.
Third,dehorning would render the rhinos vulnerable because it would be unable to defend itself against attacks by other species.The horn is a hard material made up of calcium and melanin,which provides the requisite bone strength making it capable for effective defence.It would have unknown impact on life and ecology of the animal.Also,one-horned rhinoceros is the symbol of Assam oil.Dehorning is equivalent to the loss of cultural pride of Assam.
Therefore,the best measure to control the menace is through effective monitoring and increased vigilance.The government should train the security forces effectively on how to deal with the poachers.Anti-poaching camps should be created with adequate infrastructure and capacity building.The government may emulate the African model wherein the horns were dyed with pink color.Consequently,they could be traced easily by X-ray scanning even if it was ground to a fine powder,thus preventing illegal smuggling through important installations like air-ports and other check points.The government may also fast-track these cases to ensure higher conviction rates.This would certainly serve as a deterrent for the wrong-doers.
Recently.some scholars had recommended dehorning of rhinoceros as a possible alternative to contain the menace of illegal poaching.Dehorning may sound as a credible option,per se,but it will have serious unintended ramifications.First,it amounts to a tacit admission by the state that it is helpless against notorious poachers and unauthorised forces.The poachers,in utter desperation,would search frantically for other measures like poaching of tigers for its nail,hides and skin.
Second,there is no guarantee that the horns of rhinos would be safe in the custody of state after dehorning it.The collusion between bureaucrats,politicians and illegal traders may create yet another problem so as to ensure its safety.Instead,the diligent monitoring of the movement of rhinoceros with its horn intact would be doubly effective in controlling the menace of rhino poaching.
Third,dehorning would render the rhinos vulnerable because it would be unable to defend itself against attacks by other species.The horn is a hard material made up of calcium and melanin,which provides the requisite bone strength making it capable for effective defence.It would have unknown impact on life and ecology of the animal.Also,one-horned rhinoceros is the symbol of Assam oil.Dehorning is equivalent to the loss of cultural pride of Assam.
Therefore,the best measure to control the menace is through effective monitoring and increased vigilance.The government should train the security forces effectively on how to deal with the poachers.Anti-poaching camps should be created with adequate infrastructure and capacity building.The government may emulate the African model wherein the horns were dyed with pink color.Consequently,they could be traced easily by X-ray scanning even if it was ground to a fine powder,thus preventing illegal smuggling through important installations like air-ports and other check points.The government may also fast-track these cases to ensure higher conviction rates.This would certainly serve as a deterrent for the wrong-doers.
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