A high-level committee, headed by State Forest and Environment Commissioner B B Hagzer, has suggested the setting up of a special task force to protect the highly endangered rhino and other animals of Kaziranga National Park. The panel has asked the authorities to immediately increase the manpower engaged in guarding wildlife in the sanctuary. The suggestions have come in the wake of increased incidents of poaching of rhinos for their horns in recent months, with the authorities complaining of shortage of manpower despite a rise in the rhino population.

The special task force should be so constituted that it’s able to tackle emergency situations and deter rhinos from straying out of the protected area. Rhinos straying out of the park in search of food become easy prey for poachers, as guards do not keep an watch on animals outside their demarcated territory. The committee, which submitted its report to the state Government on Friday, has also suggested setting up of forest guard camps every 2 kms on National Highway 37 that passes through the national park, apart from pressing for better equipment and infrastructure support for the protection force.

“Protection of rhinos and other endangered wildlife is an area of concern for the Government, and that is why we have set up a high-level committee which has come up with recommendations within a record time,” Forest and Environment Minister Rockybul Hussain said here on Sunday. Hussain admitted that Kaziranga was facing a shortage of manpower, especially after the area of the national park was increased from 430 sq km to 900 sq km. “We have increased the strength of guards by 50, but given the size of the sanctuary and the number of its inmates, the present strength is insufficient,” the minister said.

... contd.