Latest news with #RhODIS
Time of India
05-07-2025
- General
- Time of India
UP to get 2 new rhino habitats soon
Pilibhit: Work to establish two new habitats for the one-horned rhinoceros in Uttar Pradesh's Katarniaghat Wildlife Sanctuary and Pilibhit Tiger Reserve (PTR) has begun following a Rs 1.5 crore allocation by the state govt. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR), currently home to all 51 of UP's one-horned rhinos, will oversee the project's implementation. The two sites were selected after audits conducted at Katarniaghat (July-Sept 2023) and PTR (March 2025) by a committee led by BS Bonal, former additional director general of the National Tiger Conservation Authority. DTR field director H Rajamohan said, "The key features of the two proposed rhino habitats will be finalised in an upcoming meeting of the 'Rhino Core Group' at Dudhwa." Additionally, three more sanctuaries, Sohagi Barwa (Maharajganj), Kishanpur (Lakhimpur Kheri) and Suhelwa (Shravasti, Gonda, and Balrampur), have been identified as potential sites under a long-term plan for rhino conservation during 2022–23 to 2030–31. Currently, DTR houses its rhinos in two enclosures -- RR1 and RR2 -- covering 40.4 sq km. In a pilot project to reduce inbreeding, one male and three female rhinos were released into the wild in two phases between Dec and March. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like 5 Books Warren Buffett Wants You to Read In 2025 Blinkist: Warren Buffett's Reading List Undo The goal is to increase genetic diversity by enabling mating with rhinos from Nepal that migrate across the border seasonally, Rajamohan said. On the preparatory work underway, he said, "Simultaneous efforts include research on rhino genetics and diversity, strengthening surveillance, improving grassland management, periodic medical exams, and continuous monitoring of the four free-ranging rhinos." The project will also fund the introduction of the Rhino DNA Indexing System (RhODIS) -- a first for DTR. RhODIS creates a genetic fingerprint of each rhino from horn, tissue or blood samples, aiding in tracking and protection. It was developed in 2010 by University of Pretoria's Genetics Laboratory and adopted in India in 2016 through a collaboration among Wildlife Institute of India (WII), WWF-India and forest departments in Assam, UP and West Bengal. "RhODIS will improve surveillance and help crack down on poaching by linking seized rhino parts to specific individuals," said Manoj Kumar, joint director at Wildlife Crime Control Bureau (WCCB). "Between 2008 and 2018, 102 rhinos were poached in India and 209 suspects arrested, but only 20 were convicted between 2011 and 2017. RhODIS can help change that." Rajamohan added that part of the funds will go toward studying behavioural patterns of the newly released rhinos, which currently tend to return to dense canopy areas at night, a habit not typically observed in wild rhinos that prefer open grasslands and marshes.
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Yahoo
International group points finger at one nation not doing its part on critical issue: 'Everyone should be sharing'
Efforts to put an end to rhino horn trafficking are being foiled by one of the hotbed countries for the illegal practice: Vietnam. Fortunately, the nation's lack of cooperation is not being ignored; representatives were taken to task on the international stage in early February 2025, according to Mongabay. But will the increased scrutiny be enough to make a difference? The Standing Committee of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES) held its annual meeting in early February 2025. At the meeting, the topic of rhino horn trafficking was discussed, and an increasingly tired issue came to the fore. For years now, pressure has been put on Vietnam to improve its enforcement measures and its reporting methods regarding rhino horn trafficking. This included sharing samples of seized horns with the South African Rhino DNA Indexing Systems (RhODIS). "Ideally, everyone should be sharing samples of seized rhino horn with South Africa," Jo Shaw from the NGO Save the Rhino says. Unfortunately, Vietnam is not necessarily the only nation that's slacking in its rhino-protecting duties. In fact, Taylor Tench of the Environmental Investigation Agency claims that most rhino horns are never shared with RhODIS. Putting an end to rhino horn trafficking is a key component to protecting these beautiful endangered creatures. While there are other threats to the rhino population — like plastic pollution — poachers are by far the greatest. A shocking 96% of African Black rhinos were poached between 1972 and 1996. This was largely done to satisfy consumer demand for rhino horns. Vietnam (along with China) was the largest market for the product, and that remains true even today. Knowing this information, it's fairly clear why it's important not only to trace seized rhino horns but also for Vietnam to be an active participant in the practice. It's heartbreaking to know that the rhinoceros is threatened largely by the greed and materialism of humans. However, there are other humans out there who may be the biggest reason the beautiful species survives. Should we be actively working to kill invasive species? Absolutely It depends on the species I don't know No — leave nature alone Click your choice to see results and speak your mind. Conservationists in Africa have been working to protect the critically endangered eastern black rhino. In July 2024, they were amazed and delighted to find a baby black rhino in the wild. A trail camera provided Indonesian conservationists with an equally shocking discovery in August 2024. Footage revealed a critically endangered Javan rhino and its calf walking through Ujong Kulong National Park. These amazing discoveries are the result of tireless conservation efforts. It's important to remember that while some people are willing to extinguish an entire species for profit, others dedicate their lives to ensuring that they survive. Join our free newsletter for good news and useful tips, and don't miss this cool list of easy ways to help yourself while helping the planet.
