FRACTAL ANALYSIS OF INDIAN RHINOCEROS POACHING AT KAZIRANGA
By
Rashmi Bhardwaj(1)∗
University School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Non-linear Dynamics Research Lab, Guru
Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sec-16C, Dwarka, New Delhi-110078
Email-rashmib22@gmail.com
Saureesh Das(2)
University School of Basic and Applied Sciences, Non-linear Dynamics Research Lab, Guru
Gobind Singh Indraprastha University, Sec-16C, Dwarka,New Delhi-110078
Email-saureeshdas@gmail.com
(Received : November 24, 2017; Revised in final form September 23, 2018)
Abstract
This paper deals with study of fractal properties of poaching statistics for Indian Rhinoceros at Kaziranga National Park. The statistics used for study comprises time series of total number of incidents of poaching of Indian Rhinoceros at Kaziranga yearly from 1965- 2016. The significance of studying poaching statistics of Indian Rhinoceros at Kaziranga lies in planning of conservation efforts at the national park for the ensuring the effective growth of species. Indian Rhinoceros according to IUCN Red list fall in the category of vulnerable species. The conservation efforts to promote their growth is severely impacted by the instants of poaching of Indian Rhinoceros due to growing demand of their horn in international market. The number of poaching incidents reported in 1992 was 49 which is the highest post 1965 which reduced to 3 during 2011. Despite of being in news for a successful conservation story the threat to Indian Rhinoceros posed by poaching persists as from 2012 the number of poaching incidents increased to 27 in 2013 and remaining at 19 in 2016. The Hurst exponent calculated for the times series is observed to be in range 0.5 which falls in the persistence range clearly indicating towards the increase in the incidents of poaching from 2012 onwards. It is concluded that a situation of dichotomy exists where on one side the species population growth is being encouraged while on the other side the menace of poaching in a persistent manner is posing severe threat to the species according to which the conservation efforts are to be taken more effectively to curb poaching menace.
Keywords and phrases: Kaziranga, Indian Rhino, Poaching, R/S Analysis, Dispersional Analysis, Fractal Dimension.
2010 Mathematics Subject Classification: 37C45