Updated on Sunday, February 17, 2008, 00:00 IST

"Four rhinos are in the line for being translocated from the Pabitora wildlife sanctuary to the Manas forest very soon", Chief Conservator of Forest (Wildlife) Bishen Singh Bonal said here on Sunday.

Bonal confirmed that a four-member team of UNESCO's World Heritage Committee had recently visited the Manas National Park, a world heritage site, and expressed satisfaction with the measures taken by the forest department to strengthen infrastructure and security measures there.

The park was in danger of losing its world heritage status after facing the wrath of the Bodo militants in the 1990s in which almost all the forest camps and infrastructure were destroyed.

The animal population, including the royal Bengal tigers and the highly endangered one-horned rhinos, were also in danger with numbers of several species decreasing alarmingly forcing the UNESCO to reassess the world heritage status of the park.

"The UNESCO team visited the park last week and are satisfied with the current position and animal strength", bonal added.

The CCF said the four rhinos will have to be administered tranquilising drugs produced by a UK based firm and then translocated to the Manas park.

"We are waiting for the drugs to arrive for the translocation process to start", he said. A special task force for rhino translocation has been formed which has also expressed satisfaction about the security measures adopted inside the park, he said.

The committee was also satisfied with the anti-poaching measures taken up by the park authorities, he said.

The UNESCO team was happy with the augmentation work but regarding the allegation of harm to the animal population they have asked for a database report, Bonal said.

He said a proper animal database was under preparation by the Manas Tiger Reserve authorities after the population of several species dwindled during the disturbed period.

On the infrastructure front, the forest roads inside the park have been repaired and several bamboo and foot bridges constructed for movement of forest security staff, he said.

A total of 13 camps have been rebuilt and security enhanced in all the 31 camps inside the park.

Bureau Report