Population history of Great Indian rhinoceros in North Bengal and major factors influencing the same

1992, August, one calf born

1992, Dec., one male sub-adult died

1956-57, exists, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1957-58, exists, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

Poaching 1992, 1

1965-66, 75, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1935-36, good number, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

8, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

14, cf. Directorate of Forests, W.Bengal.

10, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

12, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

8, cf. Conservator of Forests, Darjeeling.

8, cf. West Bengal Forest Dept.

exists, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

7, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

7, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

1920s, <12, cf. Fawcus 1943.

1936-37, 4-5, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

ca.12, cf. Gupta 1958.

1948, ca.60, cf. Shebbeare & Roy

1966-67, 76, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

Poaching 1991, 1

15

1958-59, ca. 65, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1964, 72

1948-49, a couple, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1949-50, a couple, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1952-53, fair number, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

15, cf. Div.Forest Officer, Jalpaiguri

1936-37, 56, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1940-41, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1954, over 50

1954-55, promising, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1957, ca. 50

12, cf. Div.Forest Officer, Jalpaiguri

1992, 33, 8/12, cf. Div.forest Officer, Jalpaiguri

1953-54, exists, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1970, extinct

small no., cf. Dutta-Mazumdar 1954

5 cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

1975, 23, 7/7/4, cf. Conservator of Forests, Darjeeling

1978, 19, 5/7/4, cf. Conservator of Forests, Darjeeling

1989, 27, 9/13, cf. Div.forest Officer, Jalpaiguri

1980, 22, 5/7/6, cf. Conservator of Forests, Darjeeling

14, cf. West Bengal Forest dept.

1988, 24, 9/11, cf. Div.forest Officer, Jalpaiguri

13, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation.

1958, exists, cf Gupta 1958

1958-59, ca. 10, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1966-67, exists, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1967-68, exists, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

at least 240, i.e Buxa and Garodhat 120+, Jalpaiguri and Patlakhawa 100+, Gorumara 20+.

1954-55, extists, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

200+, cf. Fawcus Committee (includes Patlakhawa).

Poaching 1983, 1

Rhinos of Gorumara are known to wander off. In March 1989, one female wandered into Bangladesh and had to be physically brought back.

Poaching 1980, 2

Poaching 1990, 1

Poaching 1978, 1

1930-1931, 50

Poaching 1984, 1

Poaching 1984, 2

1948-49, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1949-50, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1950-51, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation.

1951-52, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1952-53, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1953-54, 30-56, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1947-48, increasing, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

analyzing records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 1871-1905 Buxa region - rhinos killed (injured) 1877 4 1882 1886 1891 1896 4 (2) 1879 1883 1887 1892 3 (1) 1897 1880 1884 5 (1) 1889 1 (2) 1893 5 (1) 1904 (2) 1881 1885 1 1890 3 1895 2 (4) Total 1877-1904: 28 killed, 13 injured in Buxa.

1968-69, 75, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

Records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 1871-1905. Garodhat District killed 104, injured 18 Buxa District Killed 28, injured 13 Gorumara Killed 1, injured 1 Jaldapara Killed 1, injured 1 Patlakhawa Killed 1, injured 1 Total 135 killed, 34 injured, 1871-1905 (details at districts).

Rhinos were reported in Hillajhora forests in 1940-50 and 1950-51. They were reported to be travelling up to Mynaguri, Chapramari, North Diana and South Diana till late 1960s.

Poaching 1982, 3

Poached 1976-77, 1

Poached 1973-74, 1

Rhinos from Jaldapara have been known to visit Patlakhawa as late as 1985. Information from local people indicated that rhinos from Jaldapara were frequent visitors to the forests of Nilpara range (Bhutri, Godamdabri, Bharnabari, Rangamati) and Madarihar range (Khairbari, Titi, Dumchi) in 1940s and 1950s. Rhinos were regular vistors until 1984 to the forests of Titi and Jalgaon. Rao recorded presence of rhino in Khairbari, Bhutri, Salkumar and Basti (Chilapata) and some private jute forests near Moiradanga. Forests of Chilapata (Bania, Barodabri, Mendabari) have always been visited by rhinos from Jaldapara. Rhinos occasionally went to nearby forests of Nimati range in Buxa, not recorded since 1982.

The rhinos of the Torsa region comprised of two overlapping sub-populations, i.e. [Patlakhawa] and the Jaldapara sub-population in Jalpaiguri district, occupying the present Jaldapara Sanctuary and Chilapata reserves, and moving up to Bhutri and other adjoining forests in Buxa and Cooch Behar divisions. In his three hunting expeditions in 1892, 1893 and 1904, in and around Chilapata Forest, the Maharajah of Cooch Behar recorded killing of one rhino, injury of one, and sighting of over 14.

small no., cf. Dutta-Mazumdar 1954

ca. 10, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

40-50, cf. Fawcus 1943.

Poached 1958-59, 1

1973-74, 21, cf. Annual Report of Game Preservation

1951-52, a few, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

25, cf. Gee 1952

increasing, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

Analyzing records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 1871-1905 Garodhat region - rhinos killed (injured) 1877 11 1882 9 (2) 1886 18 1891 4 (2) 1896 1879 11 1883 7 (4) 1887 4 (1) 1892 1897 1 1880 6 (2) 1884 8 1889 4 (2) 1893 2 (1) 1904 1881 8 (2) 1885 10 (2) 1890 1 1895 Total 1877-1904: 104 killed, 18 injured in Garodhat.

Rhinos in the Sankosh-Rydak region moved freely across the Assam-bengal border and contained two separate, though overlapping subpopulations, viz. Buxa population ... and the Garodhat sub-population in Cooch Behar district, occupying the forests and adjoining grass-lands in Atiamochar and Nagurhat. Garodhat happened to be the exclusive hunting reserve of the maharaja of Cooch Behar. Between 1877 and 1897, as many as 104 rhinos were killed and 18 rhinos were injured in and around Garodhat reserve - the largest number in 1886 was 18. It appears that Garodhat had one of the largest concentrations of rhinos in North Bengal. It was also the first region in North Bengal where the rhino became extinct. By 1930, rhinos were stated to be non-existant in the region.

Poaching 1992, 1

Poached 1957, 1

Poaching 1993, 1

Movement of rhinos to Chapramari and Diana ranges (except Jaldhaka block) has been rare since 1980. Rhinos of Gorumara are known to wander off, one female in 1989 had to be brought back from Bangladesh. Another female strayed into the forests of Apalchand range and moved as far west across the river Teesta to Mahananda sanctuary. It died in Apalchand forests in August 1992.

In 1885, the Maharajah of Cooch behar recorded killing 5 rhino, injuring 2 and sighting another 5 in the region along Jaldhaka and Diana.

The Jaldhaka-Diana population of rhinos occupied the forests of Upper Tondu, Lower Tondu and Diana in Jalpaiguri Division and moved upto Indo-Bhutan border in the north and Mynaguri in the east. The present Gorumara Sanctuary formed the nucleus of this population, which can, therefore, also be called Gorumara population.

Poaching 1981, 1

Poaching 1985, 2

Poaching 1968-72, 28

1932, 40-50

Poaching 1955-56, 2

increasing, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

increasing, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

increasing, cf. Annual Report on Game Preservation

1949, set up as reserve.

Rhinos were reported common in the forests of Jalpaiguri Division, but their population has never exceeded 20 since 1920s.

Poaching 1954-55, 1

Poaching 1968-72, 4

Poaching 1983, 1

Poaching 1981, 1

Poaching 1972-73, 6

The rhinos of the Torsa region comprised of two overlapping sub-populations, i.e. [Jaldapara] and the Patlakhawa sub-population in Cooch Behar district which occupied the Patlakhawa Reserve and extended as far as upto Pundibari near Cooch Behar. The Maharajah of Cooch Behar killed 1 rhino, injured 1 rhino and sighted 6 rhino in 1905. There are many persons in Cooch Behar who vouch for the presence of dozens of rhinos in the region in the 1930s and 1940s. Rhinos in Patlakhawa fell to the bullets of poachers or moved over to Jaldapara in the early 1970s, no rhino present in census operation held since 1973-74. Rhinos from Jaldapara have been known to visit Patlakhawa occasionally, but no visit recorded since 1985.

Rhinos existed in the Sundarbans within West bengal till the second half of 19th century.

During the April 1992 census in Jaldapara, presence of rhinos was recorded in an area of only 80 km2, comprising forest compartments of Malangi, Chilapata, Jaldapara, Torsa, Mandabari and Bania.

Maharajah of Cooch Behar saw rhino in 1884 around Ramshaihat (Lower Tondu), Dhupjhora (Upper Tondu) and Nagrakata (Diana). Rhinos existed in the flood plains of the rivers Jaldhaka, Upper Tondu and Diana ranges and perhaps also the grasslands existing outside the forest reserves.

Births in the population. 1988 3 1990 2 1992 2 1989 2 1991 3 1993 3 End

analyzing records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 1871-1905. He killed 1 rhino and injured 1 rhino in 1893.

Legal hunting of rhinos was permissible in Bengal until the passing of the Bengal Rhinoceros Preservation Act in 1932. The Maharajah of Cooch Behar had exclusive rights to hunt rhinos within his jurisdiction.

Rhinos in the Sankosh-Rydak region moved freely across the Assam-Bengal border and contained two separate, though overlapping subpopulations, viz. Garodhat sub-population ... and Buxa sub-population in Jalpaiguri district, occupying the forests of Bholka and Rydak reserves in the presenty Buxa Tiger reserve. According to the records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, as many as 28 rhinos were killed and 13 injured in the region between the rivers Rydak and Sankosh from 1877 to 1904. Sighting of more than 14 rhinos was also recorded. No other information upto 1948. Rhinos were said to be present in the wet forests of Panbari of Buxa division in the 1930's, but unsure to which sub-population these belonged.

West Bengal, threats: 1. Pressure of human population 2. Hunting 3. Poaching 4. Loss of habitat 4.1 Agriculture and tea-industry 4.2 Encroachment 4.3 Erosion through flooding 4.4 Forestry practices 5. Predation 6. Intra-specific fights 7. Accidents

Rhinoceros sondaicus used to exist in North Bengal, but it became extinct much earlier - the last recorded sighting made in the forests of Chilapata in 1900 (Annual Report on Game Conservation, 1936-37).

Rhinos existed in the District of Malda within West Bengal till the second half of 19th century.

Analyzing records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 1871-1905. He killed 1 rhino and injured 1 rhino in 1905.

Births, 1

Births, 1

Births, 1

Births, 1

Births, 1989, one pregnant female died in March.

Births, 1

Analyzing records of the Maharajah of Cooch Behar, 1871-1905 - He killed 5 rhino and injured 2 rhino in 1884.