SC stops Assam govt. move to de-notify rhino habitat
- The Supreme Court froze the Assam government’s move to withdraw an almost 26-year-old notification constituting the Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, which hosts one of the largest rhino populations in the country.
Key Highlights
- The government reasoned that declaration of the sanctuary was made without settling the rights of the people living in villages in the area including Thengabhanga, Murkata and Mayong.
- These villagers belonged to the marginalized communities and had been residing in the area even before Independence.
Panel set up
- The government, having withdrawn the 1998 notification declaring the wildlife sanctuary,
- It had also constituted a committee to look into both the rights and claims of the forest dwellers in the area
- As well as taking a considered decision, this time, to declare the Pobitora region as a wildlife sanctuary.
Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of one-horned rhinos in the world and second highest concentration in Assam after Kaziranga National Park.
- It is often called ‘Mini Kaziranga’ due to similar landscape and vegetation.
- The wildlife sanctuary is home to endangered one-horned rhinoceros and the other mammals such as Leopard, Leopard cat, Fishing cat, Jungle cat, Feral Buffalo, Wild pigs, Chinese pangolins, etc.
- About 72% of Pobitora Sanctuary consists of the wet savannah of Arundo donax and Saccharum.
- The remaining area is covered by water bodies.
- Water hyacinth (an invasive aquatic plant) is a major problem to the area especially to waterfowl, as it forms thick mats on the water surface.
Prelims Takeaway
- Kaziranga Wildlife Sanctuary
- Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary