34 elephants, 200 staff to conduct rhino census in Kaziranga National Park

GUWAHATI: As many as 34 elephants and 200 personnel will be involved in the tenth rhino census inside the world famous Kaziranga National Park in upper Assam.

The trained elephants and 200 staff, including foresters, NGOs and local villagers and media personnel, will be involved in the three-day census which began today, chief conservator of forest (CCF) S P Singh, the leader of the operation, said.

The census operation was started wayback in 1966 inside the park, a world heritage site, which is known for its one-horned rhino, a highly endangered species.

The census began in the central range of Kohora, Western range Bagori and Burapahar range today, he said.

In the last census in 2009, a total of 2048 rhinos were found while in 2006 the number was 1855.

"This time we are sure that the number of rhinos will increase", Singh said.