Guwahati, Dec 7: Assam-based passionate conservation scientist Dr. Bibhab Kumar
Talukdar, has underlined the need to accord priority to conservation of Asian rhinos at the
global dialogue on conservation of rhinos during a high-level side event titled “How can
CITES best support impactful rhino conservation?” at the Twentieth Meeting of the
Conference of the Parties (CoP20) to CITES, held in Samarkand, Uzbekistan from
November 24 to December 5 last.
An acclaimed rhino conservation expert, Dr. Talukdar was attending the CITES CoP20 as
part of IUCN Delegation.
Hosted by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and Save the Rhino International, the
event reviewed three decades of international collaboration to curb illegal poaching and horn trafficking under CITES Resolution Conf. 9.14 (Rev. CoP19).
The side event was graced by Ben Janse van Rensburg, Chief Enforcement Unit, CITES
Secretariat, who has highlighted on background on CITES approach on support to rhino
conservation, framing from the Rhino Enforcement Taskforce.
Participating as a distinguished panellist, Dr. Bibhab Talukdar, Chair of the IUCN/SSC
Asian Rhino Specialist Group and also the Secretary General and Executive Director of
Aaranyak (www.aaranyak.org), strongly advocated for advancing Asia’s rhino conservation
priorities.
He highlighted success stories of rhino population recovery while drawing attention to
persistent as well as emerging threats across Asian rhino habitats with special reference to
iconic Greater one-horned rhino.
Dr. Talukdar appealed to CITES Parties to enhance collaboration within Asian Rhino Range
Countries to learn from each other to bolster policy implementation and increase investment in community-led protection programmes.
“CoP20 presents a pivotal opportunity to intensify global commitment against the illegal
horn trade and to safeguard the future of every rhino species,” remarked Dr. Talukdar, who
was recently honoured with the prestigious Harry Messel Award for Conservation
Leadership by the Species Survival Commission of IUCN.
Dr. Talukdar has mentioned that rhino range countries need to engage with other law
enforcement agencies like police, border forces more proactively besides forest and wildlife
officials to facilitate shared responsibility to curb illegal rhino killings and international
wildlife trade.
It is hoped that some of the actions Dr. Talukdar talked about shall be picked up to secure
Asian rhinos by the range country agencies.
The session concluded with a unified call for stronger international enforcement
mechanisms, better compliance across borders, and sustained conservation financing –
essential to ensure that both African and Asian rhinos continue on their path to long-term
recovery.
