The century-old one-horned Asiatic rhino habitat in Terai Arc is turning into rehabilitation zone for the threatened species. Enthused by the success of the first phase of the Rhino Reintroduction Programme in Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, the second phase is in the offing covering a bigger area than used in the first programme. The objective behind the programme is to bring in rhino from outside to check inbreeding. The process is on to acquire six rhinos from Pobitara sanctuary in Assam. Dudhwa along with Kaziranga and Manas in Assam is rare tiger reserves where tigers and rhinos co-exist. According to field director Shailesh Prasad, the second phase of the programme is being proposed in an area of 90 sq kms. This is in the south-west part of the park comprising South Sonaripur and South Bellarian Ranges. The area has been found suitable due to the presence of a 15-km long tract of grassland on the southern boundary of the park bordering the Suheli River. Fifty per cent of the area is subject to seasonal floods and an area of 560 hectares is permanently swampy and water logged, ideal for the growth of the special variety of grass favourable for rhino diet. “Initially six young adults with two males and four females would be introduced,” pointed out Prasad. The State Government is in the final stages of completion of procedural formalities of acquisition. National Tiger Conservation Authority has also given its consent and in the given situation the project is expected to kick off early next year, added Prasad. The first ever reintroduction programme of one-horned Asiatic Rhino was done in the Tiger Reserve in an area of 27 sq kms with six rhinos from Pobitara and Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Male calves born in rhino area are now mature enough to breed but are driven out by the dominant surviving founder male. All the calves born till date are progeny of this dominant male. Pointing to the urgency of the second reintroduction, Prasad said, “There is an urgent need to introduce some other male with different genetic base.” Further a new sector is also required to avoid the chances of infighting among them. Due to lack of escape space inside the existing rhino area male rhinos usually go out of the fenced-in area or shifting the area frequently to avoid mutual conflicts, thereby necessitating the need of enlarging rhino habitat According to experts, the Terai Arc extending upto Nepal was once the traditional home of the rhinos. In the last 200 years, over-hunting, fragmentation of habitat among other causes have resulted in their disappearance from the area. However, the given efforts are bringing back these endangered species to their erstwhile home turf, they added.