From Corbett to Uttarakhand’s Rhinos: Raza Kazmi Unveils Forgotten Wildlife Tales
Wildlife historian Raza Kazmi reveals forgotten tales of rhinos in Uttarakhand and the secret 1935 origins of the Corbett Tiger Reserve.
India’s wildlife history is filled with hidden chapters that have largely slipped through the cracks of mainstream narratives. This was the central theme as wildlife historian and conservationist Raza Kazmi shared captivating, long-forgotten accounts of the country's natural heritage during the Corbett Literature Festival in Ramnagar, Uttarakhand.
The Lost Rhinos of Uttarakhand
One of the most startling revelations from Kazmi involved the historical presence of rhinoceroses in the Himalayan foothills. While modern audiences almost exclusively associate rhinos with the plains of Assam, Nepal, or Northern Bengal, Kazmi pointed out that the animal once held territory much further west.
"We usually associate rhinos with Assam or Nepal to some extent and Northern Bengal, that is where they're found now," Kazmi explained. However, he noted that the very first British visual record of a rhino in India actually originated in Uttarakhand.
Kazmi recounted a specific encounter from April 1789 involving the renowned British artists Thomas Daniell and his nephew William Daniell. While traveling toward the Garhwal kingdom, the duo stumbled upon a massive rhino near Kotdwar. The animal had approached a stream to drink, providing the artists with a rare opportunity to capture its likeness in a sketch. The encounter ended abruptly when the travelers fired a gun into the air, sending the creature retreating into the wilderness.
Historical evidence suggests the rhino's reach was even more extensive during the Mughal era, with sightings recorded in the foothills of Sirmaur in Himachal Pradesh and as far northwest as Peshawar.
The Secret Origins of Corbett Tiger Reserve
Beyond the movement of species, Kazmi also shed light on the institutional history of Indian conservation, specifically the birth of the iconic Corbett Tiger Reserve. Many believe the reserve's history is relatively modern, but Kazmi traces its true genesis back to a landmark event in 1935.
He highlighted the All India Conference for Wildlife Preservation, a monumental gathering held in January 1935. The scale of this meeting was unprecedented for its time:
- Massive Participation: Representatives from 565 princely states and various British provinces converged for the summit.
- Policy Formulation: The three-day deliberation aimed to create a unified approach to wildlife preservation across a fragmented India.
- The Direct Result: These discussions led to the promulgation of the United Provinces National Parks Act.
This legislative milestone directly resulted in the creation of Hailey National Park, which eventually evolved into what we now know as the Corbett Tiger Reserve and Nanda Devi.
Kazmi emphasized that the way wildlife history is recorded often depends on the regional lens used. For him, uncovering these accounts is more than just academic interest; it is a vital act of remembering the landscapes, the people, and the animals whose legacies have been overshadowed by modern history.