Kolkata, Sep 22 (IANS): West Bengal forest department has taken a unique initiative to expand the area of grasslands for free movement of one-horned rhinos in north Bengal.

According to state forest minister Jyoti Priya Mullick, the grasslands of Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district and Gorumara National Park in Jalpaiguri district are two main areas for free movement of these one-horned rhinos. "Now we have created provisions for extending that space at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling district and Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district," he added.

Although Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park are two main abodes of one-horned rhinos in north Bengal, the existence of such species of animals have also been spotted in other jungles in this sector.

"However, those additional spaces do not have enough grassland areas, which are the ideal roaming spaces for the free movement of those one-horned rhinos. So we have expanded the grassland areas at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Buxa Tiger Reserve,” the state forest minister said.

Besides expanding the grasslands in these new areas, the forest department has also taken initiatives for ensuring the safety of these animals from poachers by setting up necessary infrastructure there.

"Besides setting up watchtowers separately there, initiatives have also been taken to set up separate patrolling- points in those added grasslands areas. Specially trained elephants are being kept at these patrol- points, who will be used for the patrolling purpose,” said a senior official of the state forest department.

Earlier in August this year, the department took an initiative for creating fresh grasslands on 300 hectares of land within Jaldapara National Park alone over an inverted U-shaped area scattered over the western, northern and eastern ranges of the national park.