Lakhimpur: Rhinos in the Dudhwa Tiger
Reserve will soon get a unique identity number, a step which
will help wildlife officials track their movement.
The rhinos will be "digitally-signed" under the
Identity-based Rhino Monitoring Programme (IRMP).
"The ID-based monitoring programme will help keep a close
watch on every individual rhino in the reserve besides
studying their behavioural changes," Director, DTR, Shailesh
Prasad said.
At present, monitoring of rhinos is done through manual
and elephant patrolling.
However, after the identity-based programme, the
authorities will be able to monitor the movements of every
individual rhino.
"Similar identity-based monitoring programme is in
progress in Chitwan Park in neighbouring Nepal, where the
rhinos are being allotted unique identity numbers," deputy
director of DTR Ganesh Bhat said.
He said a letter has been sent to the government to seek
their permission to go Nepal for preliminary study of the
ID-based monitoring programme.
Elaborating upon the programme, Prasad said it relies
upon the distinctive characteristics of every rhino, which is
distinguished from its fellows on the basis of its uni-horn,
back portion, jaws etc.
"These distinctive features of every rhino will be
photographed and digitised in a computer to make a complete
database of a particular rhino and a distinctive identity
number will be awarded thereafter," the authorities said.
They said during monitoring, the photographs would be
matched with the earlier-prepared database.
PTI
First Published: Tuesday, November 22, 2011, 12:48