1500
According to the records, the first rhinos visited Pabitora in the summer of 1923. They came from the adjacent areas and gradually settled in Pabitora.
Until 1971, Pabitora was a 'Grazing Reserve' for the surrounding villages. It was declared a 'Reserved Forest' in November 1971, and covered an area of 15.84 kmy. As the population of Indian rhinos increased over the years, in 1987 the State Government of Assam upgraded Pabitora to 'Wildlife Sanctuary' status.
Poaching presents the greatest threat to the survival of Indian rhinos in Pabitora WS. Nineteen rhinos were killed by poachers in the sanctuary between 1987 and 1993. Another twelve died of natural causes.
The sanctuary is surrounded by villages on all sides and it was observed that the rhinos stray out of the sanctuary to forage, especially during the night. About 25-30% of the rhinos of Pabitora stray out of the core notified area to forage in the surrounding villages and as far out as 30-40 km from the sanctuary boundaries. The poacher fully utilize this opportunity to kill the rhinos for their horns. To cope with the problem, the Forest Department set up 14 camps outside the sanctuary to complement the 13 camps inside the sanctuary. Despite the constant vigilance of the forest staffs, around 10% of the total poaching occurred outside the sanctuary area. In addition to using guns and poison to kill the rhinos, in recent years poachers have successfully killed four rhinos by electrocution. The poachers utilize the high tension electric line passing through the sanctuary by connecting a wire to it and setting the wire on a rhino path. Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary is threatened with encroachment and grazing of livestock within the sanctuary. Around 2,500-3,000 cattle graze in the area, damaging the habitat. Illegal collection of thatch and firewood is done throughout the year, as is fishing. Some of the fringe villages give shelter to poachers and act as guides to lead them to the rhinos. Poaching activities originating from these areas that serve is launching pads for illegal acts should be monitored properly by the management of'tlie wildlife sanctuary in order to stop further poaching of rhinos in Pabitora.
Kaziranga badly affected by floods, in three periods starting June 1998, but 3-8 September caused death of large number of animals. 32 rhinos drowned and 4 were poached.
Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary in Assam provides a conducive habitat to the Indian rhinos. The Sanctuary constitutes an area of 16 kmy, lying midway between latitudes 2612'N to 2615'N and longitudes 922'E to 925'E, at an altitude of 15-25 meters above mean sea level.
The State of Assam has given protection to Rhinoceros unicornis since the beginning of the century. In 1915, the Government of Assam enacted the Assam Rhinoceros Prevention Act, which prohibits the hunting of rhinos in unclassed State Forests. Subsequently, the Assam Rhinoceros Preservation Act of 1954 came into force, providing protection to this rare species in all areas of the state. Further, the Indian Wildlife Protection Act 1972, adopted in Assam in 1976, provides stringent protection to the wildlife of Assam, including the rhinos.
Due to better protection received since 1971, the rhino population in Pabitora increased favorably. The 1993 census in Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary recorded 56 rhinos in the sanctuary. There were 40 adults (18 males, 21 females, 1 unsexed), 5 sub-adults (1 male, 2 females, 2 unsexed), and 11 calves.
