less than 2,200
E.P. Gee in 1964 had estimated that 2-3 rhinos were left in the Sankosh river valley (in the Kochungaon Reserved Forest). There has been no recent report from this area and perhaps no rhinos remain now.
In the early 1970s, a lone rhino was spotted by villagers in the Kochuoni Pather area near Dighaltarang. The animal had roamed about in the area covering Baghajan, Motapung and Dibru Reserved Forest (now part of Dibru-Saikhowa Wildlife Sanctuary). In 1971-72, a rhino had strayed up to the Nagaon village of Sadiya sub-division.
Rhinos regularly cross the Brahmaputra river and enter different parts of Sonitpur District, especially Panpur Reserved Forest, Khatonibari and even Tezpur town (the latest to appear near the town was seen in July 1995). In 1978, a female with a calf were seen in Soni-Rupai sanctuary (not a notified protected area) by the forest staff. In April-May 1990, a rhino travelled through Nameri Wildlife Sanctuary. In September 1990, two rhinos from Kaziranga travelled to Behali and Biswanath Reserved Forests along the Borgang nver up to Arunachal Pradesh. Later on the forest staff chased them to Khatonibari, opposite Kaziranga N.P.
In about the mid-1980s, two rhinos were seen in Namdang Reserved Forest. A lone rhino which had crossed over from Pani-Dihing area of Sibsagar, was still roaming in Dihingmukh Reserved Forest until mid-1994 (and may still be there).
March 1966: a lone rhino was killed by Mising poachers nearMerbeel in Dhakuakhana Subdivision. In the late 1970s, one rhino was reportedly seen near Lamugaon, not far from Merbeel.
Kuruwa is a small grassy tract on the north bank of the Brahmaputra river in Darrang district while Mandakata is a village with an ox-bow lake, a marsh and some grassland in Kamrup district. Both the areas are adjacent to each other. The rhino was a familiar animal of the area until about the late 1980s. At present a couple of rhinos are reported frequently. The area is not far from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and a few animals regularly move out of the sanctuary, often crossing the Brahmaputra river to Kuruwa.
This is a hilly forest located west of Kaziranga (16kmy in area). A few rhinos are located within the area. During the monsoon floods more than 20 to 25 animals take shelter in the highlands of Kukurakata.
Because of the close proximity to Kaziranga N. P., a few rhinos wander into the riverine areas of the Brahmaputra river, especially Majuli, every year. In January 1993, the carcass of a rhino was found in the Luit suti of Majuli. In January 1994, a lone animal appeared at the fringe of Jorhat town while three were seen in Majuli.
Map of N.E. India with localities of stray Indian Rhino.
1985-1987: Two rhinos were reported from the Bebejia area of Dhakuakhana. 1987-1988: these travelled eastwards but no further report was received of their whereabouts. 1986: a female with a grown calf came to Pabha Reserved Forest and travelled north-east to reach Dulung Reserved Forest from where they travelled south, then south-east. After crossing the Brahmaputra river, they entered Sibsagar district. [also Choudhury 1997a] 1986: a lone rhino was seen in Kadam Reserved Forest by the locals and forest staff. 1987: a lone rhino was recorded near Joihing river in Kakoi Reserved Forest. It then moved up to Panir Reserved Forest of Arunachal Pradesh. [also Choudhury 1997a] 1988: a lone rhino was sighted again by the locals near the confluence of Korha and Charikaria rivers in Dhakuakhana Subdivision. It travelled up to Thekeraguri.
In 1978, a female with a calf were seen in Soni-Rupai sanctuary (not a notified protected area) by the forest staff. The location was not far from the border of West Kameng district of Arunachal Pradesh.
A stray rhino passed through Matmora in early 1995 and was sighted in the Sisi-Kaighar area of Dhemaji district, north-east of Matmora.
This is a complex of ox-bow lakes, marshes and channels with elephant grass, in Sibsagar District, covering about 40 kmy (21 kmy is reserved forest). A small population was always present until the last animal was shot by poachers in April 1987. In 1993, two rhino from Kaziranga travelled to this area and settled down. In about March 1993, one of the rhinos crossed the Burhi-Dihing river and entered the Dihingmukh Reserved Forest of Dibrugarh district.
This area is located north-east of Guwahati city and west of the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary. Rhinos in small numbers are seen regularly in the area and originate from the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary.
This 4 kmy plantation of the Soil Conservation Department in Sonitpur district has no resident rhino population. But due to its location, just north of Kaziranga, across the Brahmaputra, rhinos are seen frequently. In November-December 1989, one rhino stayed in the area for more than a month. In September 1990, two rhinos, which strayed up to the border of Arunachal Pradesh, were chased by Forest Department personnel to this area where they remained for a few days. In June-July 1995, one rhino was seen in the area and it moved into the Monabafi tea estate.
In the early 1970s, a stray rhino was spotted by the villagers in the northwestern part of the district. The site was in Sikilangso village, a Karbi (tribal) hamlet near Garampani (Umrongso). The animal apparently came from Nagaon District and had followed the Kopili river valley.
Until the early 1980s, some 7-8 rhinos frequented the grasslands around Matmora, in Lakhimpur district. The last rhino of the area fell to poachers in 1985. This animal was bom near Matmora and was reportedly habituated and very tame. A stray rhino passed through the area in early 1995 and was sighted in the Sisi-Kalghar area of Dhemaji district, north-east of Matmora.
1992: two rhinos appeared near Dhunaguri which were chased back to Kaziranga by the forest staff. 1992-93: a villager was injured in Borchapori by a rhino. 1995: In the last week of January, a lone rhino entered the Narayanpur area and travelled north up to Drupong Reserved Forest of Arunachal Pradesh. Then it travelled south to near Silikaguri where it was speared to death by Mising poachers when it was trapped in a small swamp. [also Choudhury 1997a] Near Silikaguri, a few rhinos are seen during almost every winter. For instance, on 30-31 December 1994, two adults with a calf each were seen in the area.
Part of Kaziranga is located in this district and hence rhinos in small numbers regularly move out to the neighbouring paddy fields and tea plantations. In February 1993, a lone rhino entered a tea plantation near Ghiladari. In January 1994, one such stray animal was shot dead by poachers near Barua Bamungaon.
In March 1992, two people were killed by a rhino in Kamrup District, one near Kamalpur and the other near Rangiya. The rhino then moved towards Nalbafi.
One person was injured by a stray rhino in Putai village near Mathurapur in January 1979. The forest staff then chased the rhino to Diroi (Rangoli) Reserved Forest.
In about March 1993, one of the rhinos from Pani-Dihing crossed the Burhi-Dihing river and entered the Dihingmukh Reserved Forest of Dibrugarh district.
Located near Kaziranga, towards the south-west, this reserved forest is located mostly on the hills with a patch of flat land towards the north-east (34 kmy in area). Stray rhinos regularly move to the area from Kaziranga. The flat land, which is suitable for a resident rhino population, is heavily disturbed by man and hence there is no permanent rhino population.
This 44 kmy grassy tract is located just north of Laokhowa, in Sonitpur District. Until 1983, this formed an important rhino habitat together with Laohowa. Since 1983, stray rhinos have appeared regularly, mostly from Kaziranga NP. In 1989, the author found a lone animal. At present, 3-4 rhinos make frequent visits to the area.
In December 1983 and January 1984, a lone rhino travelled from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to near Nalbari town. Then it moved south-west and crossed the Brahmaputra river. The author observed the animal near Nagarbera, Kamrup district, on 23 January 1984. After that, the animal moved west and reached the vicinity of Goalpara town from where it was captured in mid-March 1984, and flown to Dudhwa National Park.
Since Kaziranga lies in the north of this district, a few rhinos often wander into the area, especially during the floods. The rhinos also climb to the hill-tops of the northernmost range of Karbi Plateau, while foraging.
In December 1983 and January 1984, a lone rhino travelled from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary to near Nalbari town. Then it moved south-west and crossed the Brahmaputra river. The author observed the animal near Nagarbera, Kamrup District, on 23 January 1984. After that, the animal moved west and reached the vicinity of Goalpara town from where it was captured in mid-March 1984, and flown to Dudhwa National Park.
Around Matmora, in Lakhimpur district. The last rhino of the area fell to poachers in 1985. This animal was bom near Matmora and was reportedly habituated and very tame.
In March 1992, two people were killed by a rhino in Kamrup District.
Individual animals often wander as far as about 200 km.
