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Wildlife Conservation Efforts

Places in news: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

rhino

Why in the news? 

  • The Supreme Court halted the Assam government’s attempt to revoke a 26-year-old notification establishing the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, home to a significant rhino population.

What was the reason behind this decision?

  • The Supreme Court asserted that withdrawing a notification for a wildlife sanctuary required permission from the National Board of Wildlife, and clarified its order does not impede actions to protect forest dwellers’ rights.

About Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary 

  • Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary boasts the highest density of one-horned rhinos globally, second only to Kaziranga National Park in Assam. Often dubbed as ‘Mini Kaziranga,’ Pobitora shares a similar landscape and vegetation to its renowned counterpart.
  • The sanctuary shelters various endangered species, including one-horned rhinoceros, leopards, leopard cats, fishing cats, jungle cats, feral buffaloes, wild pigs, and Chinese pangolins.
  • Approximately 72% of Pobitora’s area comprises a wet savannah dominated by Arundo donax and Saccharum grasses, while the rest is covered by water bodies.

About One-Horned Rhino:

  • IUCN Red List Status: Vulnerable.
  • Habitat– Rhinos are mainly found in Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
    • Assam has an estimated 2,640 rhinos in four protected areas, i.e. Pabitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park.
    • About 2,400 of them are in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR).

Prelims Question:

Which wildlife sanctuary boasts the highest density of one-horned rhinos globally, second only to Kaziranga National Park in Assam?

a) Manas National Park

b) Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

c) Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park

d) Jim Corbett National Park

 

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