Trinamool Congress government in Bengal claims success in rhino and elephant numbers

KOLKATA: The Wildlife Wing of Forest Department that manages 4692 sq km of protected area network is committed to the conservation and protection of wildlife in the State and has taken several initiatives for the same. Listing some of its success stories on their digital platform, the Trinamool Congress page said the population of rhinos touched 236 and elephants touched 647 in 2015, the highest in the last few decades.

Recent ‘Camera Trap’ technology showed healthy population of tigers in the wild and for the first time, a census of crocodiles was done in 2012 in state.

The most notable initiatives of West Bengal Zoo Authority are starting of works of Sunderban Wild Animal Park at Jharkhali and North Bengal wild Animal Park at Siliguri. Padmaza Naidu Himalayan Zoological Park, Darjeeling now acquired the status of best zoological park in the country.A new wildlife sanctuary, Pakhi Bitan, was notified at Gajoldoba in North Bengal for conserving the habitat and protecting populations of migratory birds.

Bengal Safari Park, spread over 297 hectares of natural forest land consisting of sal and other trees, was inaugurated by the Chief Minister in January, 2016.