Tun Yin, U, 1956. Rhinoceros in the Kachin State. Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 53 (4): 692-694
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| Location: |
Asia - South East Asia - Myanmar (Burma) |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Asian Rhino Species |
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A reference, G.H. Luce and Pe Maung Tin, Burma down to fall of Pagan, Journal Burma Research Institute, 29 (1939), p. 267: `We are not told what people inhabited Lin-yang. Several early works, somedating from the 4th century, refer, more or less fancifully, to the tribes living SW of Yung-Ch'ang. In the mountain astride the frontier there were the wild and troublesome P'u (b'uok) tribes, whose land produced rhinoceros, elephant, tortoise shell, jade, amber, cowries, gold, silver, salt-wells, cinnamon and cotton trees, hill paddy and panicled millet.'
The country referred to in the preceding paragraph may be identified with the present Kachin State which lies in the north of Burma and comprises Myitkyina and Bhamo districts.
In September 1955 the Ministry of the Kachin State conducted an enquiry in order to ascertain the species and number of rhinoceros still surviving within the state.
Palao Subdivision
The Assistent Resident reported in December 1955 as follows:
(a) A villager reported having seen fresh tracks of two smaller rhinoceros in the Namlang Stream.
(b) A large solitary rhino is also reported on the border of Putao Sub-division and Hukawng Valley.
The Assistent Resident cannot say whether the rhinoceros are great one-horned or the Asiatic two-horned rhinoceros. But in view of the fact that a rhinoceros shot by a Lisu in the Namlang Valley in 1942 was one-horned, and one previously shot also one-horned, the rhinoceros now reported from Putao Sib-division may be a great one-horned or Indian rhinoceros which wandered into the area from Tirap Frontier Tract National Park, Assam. They could not be the smaller one-horned or Javan rhinoceros as E.H. Peacock in `A game book for Burma' 1930, p.78 writes: `It is open to question whether the Javan rhinoceros ever existed outside the Thaton, Salween and Mergui Forest Divisions in Lower Burma. The only definite records of its existence come from these three divisions.'
For a previous note, see JBNHS 52 (1), April 1954, p. 87.
Kamaing Subdivision
The Assistent Resident of Kamaing submitted in November 1955 a copy of a report dated October 1955 from the Kayang-Ok Hpakan (Kayang-Ok is a petty officer in charge of a circle, which comprises an average of six village tracts). The gist of the report is as follows:
(a) There are rhinos in Kan Taik Bum, Wantuk Bum, Bum Chyang Bum, Hpala Mung Bum, Bundaw Bum.
(b) the minimum estimated number is about thirty.
(c) In April 1955, Lasai Duwa came upon fresh tracks between Laisai and Haung Pa which is on the Chindwin River. The size of the tracks was about the size of the track of an elephant measuring 6 to 7 ft in height.
(d) In 1952. a villager from Ohn Done village shot a rhino. The locality where it was shot was not known. About the same year, the headman of Pa-ok-gyi village shot two rhinos in Bum Chyang bum.
(e) In March 1954, a villager from Lonkhin village who went in search of amber in the Lasai Tract saw numerous fresh tracks of rhinoceros.
The writer has previously estimated the number of rhinos in the Lasai Tract as from 3 to 4 specimens. See JBNHS 52 (1), April 1954, p. 85.
The writer therefore enquired of the Assistent Resident Kamaing whether the number 30 as estimated by the Kayang-Ok was not high. The Assistent Resident replied in February 1956:
(1) The estimate is reasonable;
(2) The rhinos in the area are the Asiatic two-horned rhinoceros;
(3) A white rhino was shot in the area some thirty years ago;
(4) Fresh tracks of rhino calves have not been reported;
(5) The rhinoceros in the area are angerous and `from distance' when they see fire-smoke, they use to charge.
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Rhinoceros in the Kachin State
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