RHINO TASK FORCE OF ASSAM
1. Context
In conservation efforts for the greater one-horned rhinoceros population in India, the largest strategy is an examination of rhino dung to understand the health issues of the animals. Since 2017, the Rhino Taskforce of Assam and World Wildlife Fund India (WWF India) have been undertaking steps to study pathogens found in fresh rhino dung samples in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.
2. Why is such a project important?
- While poaching is believed to be the main cause of death in rhinos, rhinos also die of natural causes which have not been studied in great detail. “When a rhino carcass is found, the first question asked is: ‘Is the horn intact?’ If it is not, it means it was poached.
- Otherwise, it is considered a ‘natural’ death. There may be multiple reasons for a natural death but it is rarely investigated thoroughly,” said Bibhab K Talukdar, chair, the Asian Rhino Specialist Group of the International Union for Conservation of Nature/Species Survival Commission; Asia coordinator, of International Rhino Foundation; and CEO and secretary general of the NGO Aaranyak.
3. Understanding Rhino Health and Disease
- Limited Knowledge of the prevalence of disease in greater one-horned rhinos prevents conservationists and veterinarians from offering expert health care to the species and making informed conservation management decisions.
- Therefore, it is important to understand rhino health issues to conserve rhino populations that face increasing pressure from poaching, habitat loss and degradation, and the impacts of climate change.
- Over the past four years, the Rhino Task Force of Assam, of which WWF India is a member, set out to help close that knowledge gap.
- In 2018, WWF India, in collaboration with the forest department of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal and the College of Veterinary sciences, Guwahati, initiated a study examining the parasites and bacteria found in fresh rhino dung samples to help detect diseases that may lead to rhino deaths.
- Viruses, bacteria, protozoa, parasites, congenital anomalies, difficult births, deficiencies, and many more unexplored factors could be related to rhino mortality.
4. How is the project being carried out?
Till date, there has been so systematic study on the prevalence of disease-causing parasites and diseases caused by these in the rhino population in India. To address this knowledge gap, the present study is a part of a series that involves screening pathogens through a non-invasive method of dung sample analysis stated the report.
5. Findings from the study
- From the samples from Assam and West Bengal, the study concluded that parasites from four genera were present in an estimated 68% of India's rhino population.
- The overall prevalence of endoparasites was 58.57% in Assam and 88.46% in West Bengal; results from UP are pending.
- The endoparasites in Assam belonged to four genera: Amphistome spp, Strongyle spp, Bivitellobilharzia nairii, and Spirurid spp, while West Bengal reported the prevalence of only strongyle spp, Assam reported all four.
- When comparing this Bengal study with that conducted in Assam, we find that the rhino population in West Bengal has a higher prevalence rate of infection, but the occurrence of different parasites was higher in Assam, stated the report.
- These pathogens are quite common and not very alarming and until now, studies just reveal that the pathogens exist. The second stage of the investigation will determine how harmful they are.
- They now have a baseline for how often and what types of parasites are found in the wild rhino population a key step in determining the harmful effects the parasites have on their rhino host.
For Mains
| For Mains: Explain How Rhino dung is used as a health indicator for Rhinocerous and why is such a project is important? |
Source: The Indian Express
