DTR starts removing radio collar from 4 rhinos, to get complete freedom

Pilibhit: A team of experts from Assam on Friday launched an operation in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) to grant four free-ranging rhinos total independence. These rhinos -- one male and three females -- aged between 10 and 15 years -- were earlier fitted with Iridium Satellite (IRSAT) collars to monitor their movement and behaviour while being released from rehabilitation enclosures.According to Dr Mudit Gupta of the Rhino Core Group, this move is designed to empower the animals with "exclusive freedom" and promote genetic diversity by allowing them to range naturally without technological interference.The team is led by Amit Sharma, National Lead for Rhino Conservation at World Wide Fund for Nature - India. Accompanying the team is renowned veterinary expert and Padma Shri awardee Dr Kushal Konwar Sharma, responsible for conducting final health assessments before the tracking devices were removed.These rhinos were originally released in two phases between November of last year and March this year to prevent the risks associated with inbreeding. Field director of DTR, H Rajamohan, said the free-ranging rhinos were moving in a stretch of approximately 35 sq km."As we were constantly receiving signals pertaining to the location of rhinos, a female rhino with a calf was first spotted and localised with the help of the reserve's camp elephants. She was successfully darted by a team of veterinary officers, which also included the reserve's two veterinarians, Dr Mahammad Talha and Dr Daya Shankar," said Rajamohan.The calf was cautiously guarded by the elephants, and the mother rhino was medically examined. After she was found physically fit with no side effects from the radio collar or a neck injury caused by it, she was given the reversal dose. As she regained her senses, she was given exclusive freedom, Rajamohan said.He added that the movement and behaviour of the mother rhino were minutely observed by the experts, and finding everything to be normal, the team concluded the first round of collar removal on Saturday.DTR deputy director Jagdish R managed the field supervision of the operation sitting atop an elephant, while Rajamohan and Mudit Gupta held the overall strings of the operation. WWF biologist Rohit Ravi and Dr Miraj Anwar coordinated with the guest expert team from Assam in field operations.