Hope for rhinos after all: translocated animals have babies

(Courtesy WWF India)

The past few months have been sad for wildlife — elephants poached for their ivory, rhinos killed for their horns, Tibetan antelopes killed for their down fur.  

Here is a good news story: two translocated rhinos in India have had babies.

The two rhinos were relocated to a national park in northeast India in 2011. The animals and three calves were sighted on March 23 by World Wildlife Fund India researchers.

Eighteen rhinos have so far been moved from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaziranga National Park to the Manas National Park, which is believed to be better-equipped to monitor and protect them.

The last few months have been brutal for rhinos in India.

Kaziranga National Park in Assam state has lost 10 rhinos to poaching already this year. Last year, poachers killed more than 20 rhinos.

In Africa, dozens of rhinos have been killed this year.

WWF India has this interesting video on the Pobitora to Manas move:

 

Raveena Aulakh is the Toronto Star's environment reporter. She is intrigued by climate change and its impact, now and long-term. Follow her on Twitter @raveenaaulakh