Rhino census for year 2013 begins

Madarihat Feb 24 : The census of the    famed one-horned Asian rhinoceros for the year 2013 has begun at the Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal.

The previous census showed a good number of animals including 160 one-horned rhinos inhabiting the region of Jaldapara.

In this extensive exercise volunteers of around 23 NGOs associated with wildlife are also taking part.

The team, in a co-ordinated way, would survey the region for two days in search of rhinos in this wildlife sanctuary.

The Dooars region of the Jalpaiguri district of West Bengal is noted for a wild variety of animals of which the famous one horned rhino is a rarity known to attract tourists from across the world.

Forest Rangers and Game Wardens overseeing the area said that they are of the opinion that a growth in the number of rhinos is expected.

"The population of Rhino's in 2011 was 149, to accommodate the increasing number of rhino's there is a need extend the area of their habitat and that is what we are working on as part of this census project," said a Divisional Forest Officer, Rajendra Jhakar.

The census takes place every two years with an aim to estimate the number of animals living in the sanctuary alongside observing other species and recording their presence.