Assam: DNA profiling of rhinos to help fight poaching

Guwahati: In order to check world-wide network rhino horn smuggling the Indian scientists have embarked upon an ambitious plan of DNA profiling of rhinos across rhino-bearing areas of the country for gathering irrefutable evidence against poachers or anyone in possession of rhino horns.

Informing that DNA profiling has helped in matching of seized rhino horn from poachersin  at least four cases so far, the wildlife authorities pointed out that the DNA profiling — called Rhino DNA Indexing System (RhoDIS) — is currently under preparation at the Dehradun-based Wildlife Institute of India (WII).

It takes less than 20 mg of rhino horn to prosecute poachers. This is all scientists need to discover a rhinoceros’ unique DNA pattern, a sort of genetic fingerprint investigators can use to link criminals involved in poaching and trading of rhino horn to individual mutilated or killed rhinos.

It is significant that lack of hard evidence is what enables arrested poachers to escape the law, resulting in an abysmal conviction rate of less than four per cent in Assam which accounts for the largest number of the Indian one-horned rhino.

The scientists, at WII who have been entrusted with the responsibility of preparing the rhino DNA database from rhinos at Kaziranga, Manas and Orang national parks and Pobitora wildlife sanctuary in Assam, and in Jaldapara and Dudhwa national parks in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh respectively, said that field sampling from dung has been completed at Manas and Pobitora, besides Dudhwa.

The DNA profiling is also aimed to understand the genetic status of existing rhino populations across habitats and long-term conservation.

A state forest official said that efforts are on to assist the roll-out of the RhoDIS in all the rhino-bearing areas of Assam and help the formation of an authentic database.

“Combating the menace of poaching is the immediate and most important goal of the ongoing DNA profiling that has started following a directive to that effect by the Union environment ministry. . The RhoDIS will create a database of DNA profiles of all the rhinos — free ranging as well as captive population in zoos.

The DNA profile is being prepared from the tissue samples from dead rhinos and rhinos tranquillised for treatment and translocation, from mucous membrane enveloping the dung samples.

The method can be used to individually identify horns from stockpiles and to link recovered horns to individual poaching cases, thereby linking a horn trafficker to a poaching incident or a poacher caught with horns in his possession with the carcass of an individual rhino. The matching of confiscated rhino contraband with existing database for court prosecution has already started in many states.