22
ND REPORT
Bringing Rhinos Back to Manas National Park —
LEFT: In July 2015, a rehabilitated and
released rhino named Ganga—who was rescued and rehabilitated at the Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) in Assam, India—gave birth to a healthy male calf in the wild. She is the first released rhino in Manas to successfully reproduce and has given birth to three calves since her release. Photo: Bhaskar Choudhury / © IFAW/WTI BELOW: On April 9, 2021, an expert
team from the International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Wildlife Trust of India (WTI) loaded three rehabilitated greater onehorned rhino calves into individual crates for translocation and release in Manas National Park. Photo: Madhumay Malik / © IFAW-WTI BOTTOM: Animal keepers at the
In the 1990s, the greater one-horned rhino was on the verge
IFAW and WTI decided to rehabilitate orphaned rhino calves
of local extinction in India’s Manas Landscape. Today, an
from Kaziranga and then release them into Manas when they
estimated total of 54 rhinos roam and thrive in the area and
are two or three years old, an age at which they are more able
the population is steadily growing.
establish their own territory.
Nearly 50% of this population is thanks to the work of the
In 2002, IFAW, WTI and the Assam Forest Department
International Fund for Animal Welfare (IFAW) and the Wildlife
established the Centre for Wildlife Rehabilitation and
Trust of India (WTI). A leading factor in the incredible success
Conservation (CWRC) near Kaziranga National Park. It’s the
of this project is the close partnership between IFAW and
only facility in India that rescues, hand-raises and rehabilitates
WTI—a partnership that’s been going strong for 20 years, a
animals such as one-horned rhinos and Asian elephants. Since
milestone we celebrated in 2021.
it was established the CWRC has rescued more than 5,500
Manas National Park is home to diverse wildlife, including
animals and released 3,500 back into the wild.
tigers, Asian elephants, one-horned rhinos, golden langurs,
On average, CWRC rescues around three rhino calves each
swamp deer and clouded leopards. Civil unrest in the 1980s
flood year (one year, the team rescued four rhino calves in
and early 1990s left the landscape vulnerable to poaching,
one day). Orphaned calves are rehabilitated and raised until
deforestation and fragmentation. Wildlife populations were
they can be moved to a soft-release facility in Manas before
severely impacted and nearly all of the park’s existing rhino
returning to the wild.
population was wiped out.
The partnership between IFAW and WTI has made huge
As the region stabilised, IFAW began working with WTI and
progress in ensuring that rhinos and other wildlife have a safe
the Assam Forest Department to repopulate the park and
and secure habitat. Together we were instrumental in getting
re-establish it as one of the most exceptional wildlife parks in
the Manas National Park expanded by 350 square kilometres
the world through our Greater Manas Recovery Project.
in 2016. In 2021 together we helped add another 422 square
Re-establishing rhinos is a priority as they act as a keystone species in the landscape and their recovery will benefit
kilometres of protected land to the Greater Manas Landscape with the designation of Raimona National Park.
the grassland ecosystem and maintain ecological balance.
“With teamwork, consistency and incredible supporters,
However, rebuilding the population is especially challenging
positive change is within our reach. The challenges we face in
because rhinos are very territorial and adults moving from one
our world today are urgent, complicated and, often, resistant
habitat to another often fail to thrive. IFAW and our partners
to change. But the story of this project and the success of
looked for a new approach.
our long-term partnership with WTI proves that together we
The Kaziranga National Park, in the same northeast Indian state of Assam, is home to the world’s largest population of greater one-horned rhinos. Rhino calves sometimes get separated from their mothers in this area, often during biannual flooding that forces animals to seek higher ground.
can make a difference for animals and people in our world,” said Meredith Whitney, an Animal Rescue Program Manager at IFAW. MELANIE MAHONEY / IFAW
Center for Wildlife Rehabilitation and Conservation (CWRC) bottle-feed two rescued Indian rhino calves at the center, which is located near Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India. Photo: Subhamoy Bhattacharjee / © IFAW-WTI
