Saving Planet Earth
Phil Tufnell: Saving Rhinos
Phil Tufnell travels to the Indian province of Assam to visit the Kaziranga National Park, home to 75 per cent of the world's Indian rhinoceros population.
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Indian rhino used to freely roam the flood plains of South Asia but now there are only about 2,000 left in the wild. Weighing up to two tonnes, the rhinos are often killed for just a few kilograms of their weight – with many being poached for their horn, which is sold for use in Chinese medicine. Indian rhino horn is more valuable than gold.
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In the month leading up to Phil's visit, four rhinos were killed in the park. Poaching is on the increase and the already over-stretched forest guard are facing an up-hill battle.
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Phil soon discovers exactly what challenges the forest guard face when he goes on night patrol with them, experiencing just how scary it is to be on the front line. The Kaziranga Park, home to a rich variety of wildlife alongside the rhino, is a tourist attraction by day but a totally different place at night.
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"It may look tranquil," Phil says, "but, actually, it's a war zone". The forest guards risk their lives to protect the rhino and several have lost their lives in shoot-outs with the poachers.
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Rhinoceros have roamed the planet for 50 million years and patrolling the park is vital to their future. The trouble is raising money to save rhinos is a tall order.
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As Phil says: "I think I've been bowled a bit of a googly here. I mean, they are a bit lazy and a bit ugly ... a bit like me really. If only they were cute and cuddly, it would be much easier to get people to put their hands in their pockets!"
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The highlight of Phil's trip comes when he takes an elephant ride through the park and literally gets within touching distance of a baby rhino and its mother. It doesn't take too long before Phil starts to realise that while the rhino may be thick-skinned, beauty is more than skin deep.
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As he says: "They may not win any beauty contests, but that's no reason to kill them off. I've seen them in their own back yard; they don't ask for much from life and the least we can do is make things safe for them."
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A £10 donation to the 91Èȱ¬ Wildlife Fund (charity number 1119286) could help the Aaranyak Project supply a pair of stout boots for a forest guard.
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