India celebrates the success of the greater one-horned rhino population. The International Rhino Foundation revealed that the rhino population now stands at 4,014, a forty-fold increase from half a century ago.
Assam, the Indian state housing 70% of these rhinos, recently concluded its biannual rhino census. It reported a substantial increase, recording 274 rhinos more since the previous count. Nepal has similarly also seen an increase in rhino numbers.
India and Nepal both observe higher one-horned rhino populations. This is credited to the enforcement of strict protectional and conservation measures employed by the regional and national governments.
Central to this achievement is the governments' commitment to providing rhinos with the necessary space for breeding while combating poaching effectively. Over the past three years, Assam has expanded Kaziranga National Park from 430 square kilometers to 1,040. The national park is home to the world's largest population of greater one-horned rhinos,
Ghana Gurung, Country Representative of WWF Nepal, noted, "The overall growth in population size is indicative of ongoing protection and habitat management efforts by protected area authorities, despite challenging contexts these past years."
Additionally, plans are underway to extend Orang National Park by approximately 200 square kilometers. Collaborating with NGO partners, including the International Rhino Foundation, Assam's government has initiated rhino translocations.
Source: International Rhino Foundation. "Greater One-horned Rhino Population Reaches New High". https://rhinos.org/blog/news-room/greater-one-horned-rhino-population-reaches-new-high/. May 17, 2022. [Accessed: May 19, 2022].
Edited by Adhitya Balachander.
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