After Patlakhawa in Cooch Behar district, the forest department is planning to develop another rhino reserve near the Garumara National Park in Jalpaiguri district. The forest department has said it would send a  proposal on this to the Central Zoo Authority (CZA).

The construction work of the third habitat at Patlakhawa began on the occasion of Wildlife Day on 17 December last year. Garumara and Jaldapara National Parks are two other homes for the onehorned rhinos in the state. “The rhino population is on the rise, and the existing two habitats–Garumara and Jaldapara National Parks–are becoming inadequate.

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There are more than 255 rhinos in north Bengal. We are planning to develop the fourth one horned rhino habitat near the Garumara National Park. We will send the proposal to the CZA and the environment department for approvals,” state forest minister Binay Krishna Barman said. “Rhino experts have visited and tentatively selected the area near Garumara.

We are waiting for the clearance before finalizing the plan, and we are hopeful on the approvals,” he said. Talking about the Patlakhawa project, he said the  forest department would create plantations and develop the grasslands there. There are deer, bison and other animals in the area.

Mr Barman said they were hopeful that the area would be a major tourist destination like Garumara and Jaldapara. According to him, the forest department had requested the state tourism and the North Bengal Development Department to provide funds for the project.

The Patlakhawa forest has a large wetland and was once a game reserve of the Koch dynasty that had ruled Cooch Behar. Forest officials said it was important to shift the rhinos to other habitats for the security of the animals and to reduce infighting.

They said the main purpose of the decision was to ensure that rhinos stayed in a better environment. “West Bengal has the second highest population of rhinoceros after Assam. While Jaldapara is home to around 200 rhinos, Garumara has more than 50.

The increase in the population is a matter of concern for the forest department. The habitats of rhinos are not enough, as compared to their number. They need enough grazing space,” an official said.