How Dame Daphne pushed for the burning of Assam Rhino Horn stockpile

 

Dame Daphne Sheldrick           Pic: Azam

As we celebrate the Assam Government’s historical decision executed today to burn a stockpile of 2,479 odd Rhino horns this World Rhino Day, I urge you all to also remember that without a mighty push from Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick, and several other experts this may not have been possible.

Dr. Daphne, a legendary World authority on Elephants and Rhinoceros (may her soul rest in peace) always took a special interest in voicing for the beleaguered Wildlife of India and specially Assam.
She played a very important role time and again to advice, check and correct the Indian Government and also several other State Governments on taking crucial decisions in issues involving wildlife conservation and animal rights.

I am proud that I got an opportunity from her in getting trained hands on for ‘Orphaned Elephant Management’ in 2003 in Kenya and thereafter became her messenger for the authorities here as and when an SOS would require her attention.

Since most of us may not know about Dr. Dame Daphne’s contributions towards the wildlife of India, specially the northeast region hence it shall always be my duty to share her messages- lest we forget.

To start with here is the email she had sent on the 10th of June’2010 to the then Union Minister Minister for Environment & Forests (Government of India), Shri Jairam Ramesh, the Forest & Environment Minister (Assam), Shri Rockybul Hussain, the Principal Chief Conservator of Forests Assam and Secretary General of Aaranyak, Dr. Bibhab Talukdar:

Content of the original email:

“I have hand-reared from early infancy and rehabilitated back into the wild system when grown some 15 orphaned Black Rhino calves as well as over 130 orphaned elephant calves, some from the day of birth.   I am acknowledged as a world authority on both species.  Our work can be viewed at www.davidsheldrickwildlifetrust.org

 

The proposal to burn recovered Rhino Horns in Assam is definitely something that should be done to all recovered Rhino Horns throughout the world.   Kenya burnt its Rhino horn and Ivory stockpile in l989, and hopefully will soon do so again.   The demand for Rhino Horn and Ivory is causing the elimination of both Rhinos and Elephants from the Planet, and the world will be the poorer for it.   

 

I would therefore urge you to do the correct thing by carrying out the proposed burning of your Rhinohorn, irrespective of protest from those with a vested interest in perpetuating the decimation of these ancient and extremely valuable animals that have been unchanged for the past 60 million years.   In terms of Nature, therefore, they are perfect for the role they are designed to play within the environment and as such vital to the health of the whole.   All caring authorities have a responsibility to do the correct thing that is in the interest of endangered species, and it is my hope that you will rise to this challenge.”

 

Dr. Dame Daphne Sheldrick DBE MBE MBS DVMS