The Bihar government will establish a “Rhino Task Force” to recommend policies for the reinstatement of a rhino conservation programme in the West Champaran district’s “Valmiki Tiger Reserve.”
The state’s wildlife authorities are concentrating on recovering the rhino population in the area after noticing a significant increase in the tiger population in VTR. There is currently just one rhino in the VTR and 14 in the Patna Zoo, but the authorities hope to reintroduce more rhinos to the reserve with the creation of the “Rhino Task Force.”
The National Rhino Conservation Scheme has chosen the Valmiki Tiger Reserve as a suitable location where rhino from other reserves across the nation may be introduced.
To evaluate the habitat and security circumstances in VTR and to recommend strategies for the reintroduction of rhinos, a committee was established roughly two years ago.
The group, which was established two years ago, recently published its report. Based on the committee’s recommendations, the state government of Bihar established the “Rhino Task Force,” which will be in charge of developing steps to successfully implement the reintroduction project.
Over the next two years, the initiative seeks to boost rhino-bearing areas in VTR by 5%. To allow for more room for reproduction and population growth, this will entail moving rhinos from crowded habitat to designated locations in the reserve, such as Ganauli and Madanpur.
With over 75% of the world’s population of rhinos living in India and more than 93% of the country’s rhino population living in just one protected area in Assam—the Kaziranga National Park—India is vital to the survival of one-horned rhinoceros.
The West Champaran district of Bihar’s Valimik Tiger Reserve, which was formed as the 18th tiger reserve in 1990, is ranked fourth in the world for tiger population density. A main area of the Valimiki Sanctuary totaling 909.86 sq. km. is occupied by the VTR.
From 31 in 2018 to 54 in 2022, VTR recently noted a 75% increase in the number of tigers. In the previous four years, there have been an additional 23 tigers.
