Banerjee said the Indian rhino (Rhinoceros Unicornis) has disappeared from a vast area stretching from north-western India to the Indo-Chinese peninsula, save for approximately 600 left in Assam and West Bengal and Nepal. Local people living at the edges of the sanctuaries act as informers and assist in poaching of the animals, said Banerjee.

Expressing concern at the failure to take strict anti-poaching measures which might result in the extinction of the rhinos, the Padmashri wildlife conservationist suggested that the strength of properly equipped forest guards be increased.

He suggested a boost in the beat implements for guards, including rifles, elephants for patrolling, transistor devices for sending messages from camp to Kohora range in Kaziranga national park, and motor boats for patrollingon the Brahmaputra.

Banerjee said that tranquiliser guns be used for animals and funds be provided to improve the existing roads in the sanctuaries.He was of the firm view that poaching could only be stopped when it was proved to the common people that for the benefit and enjoyment of future generation they should join hands with the park management to protect the endangered species.

Pegging the permission for domestic animals to graze deep within the sanctuary boundaries as a major hurdle in rhino conservation efforts, the wildlife activist said a considerable threat to the rhinos and other wild animals was also posed by competition for limited available fodder.On the same issue, he pointed out that limited habitat would lead to intermingling and consequent spread of diseases.

The domestic animals should be excluded from Kazirangaall all the more in view of its shrinking area due to the washing away of land by Brahmaputra, he said.