Phoenix from the Ashes
<p>What does it take to bring back a unicorn? Caught in the crossfire of human strife, the last one-horned rhino <em>Rhinoceros unicornis</em> disappeared from the Manas Tiger Reserve in 1996. Since then, with protection and community support, the magnificent Manas landscape, its biodiversity and the rhino have risen like the proverbial phoenix from the ashes. This miraculous recovery did not happen overnight – it took years of consistent effort, local community participation and involvement. The translocation of adult rhinos from other areas to Manas was only possible after its habitat was rewilded in the manner that emulated the strategies laid down by Project Tiger.</p>
<p>Significant and persistent efforts were made to successfully bring back to Manas the pygmy hog and the Eastern barasingha. The pygmy hog breeding project, which started almost five decades ago in Guwahati with the support of the Durrell foundation, was carried out by very dedicated individuals with government help.</p>
<p><strong><span style="font-size:12px;">Photo: Pratik Banerjee/Sanctuary Photolibrary.</span></strong></p>
