Assam has seen a significant rise in the population of one-horned rhinoceros over the past six decades. From a population of approximately 600 in the 1960s, the number has increased to over 3,000 by 2024. This data was revealed by the Assam government on World Rhino Day.
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam is home to 80% of the country's rhino population. Orang National Park holds 4%, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has 3%, and Manas National Park just 1%. The remaining rhino population in India is distributed among various national parks in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed this growth to the state's conservation initiatives. “Rhinos are synonymous with the identity of Assam. They are our pride and the crown jewel of our biodiversity. Ever since we assumed office, we have taken various initiatives to protect the prized species, expand its habitat and ensure its safety,” Sarma wrote on X.
The government has expanded habitats and undertaken restoration efforts. An additional 200.7 sq km was added to Orang National Park, 195 sq km to Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, and 12.8 sq km of rhino habitat in the Laokhowa-Burachapori complex has been restored and cleared of encroachments.
Efforts have also been made to reduce poaching, which has dropped by 86% since 2016, according to Sarma. “Assam's rhinos are safer than ever,” he wrote.
The one-horned Asian rhino population in India has grown from 1,500 to over 4,000 in the last four decades due to conservation and anti-poaching efforts. There were only 600 left in the 1960s. India's forest department and local communities have played a significant role in this achievement.
Rhinos, which can weigh up to 2,800 kilograms and live around 50 years, are mainly found in grasslands, swamps, and riverine forests in India's east and Nepal. Globally, their numbers have decreased from 500,000 in the early 20th century to about 28,000 today.
Despite the progress, rhinos are still threatened by poaching. Their horns are used in traditional medicine and are particularly valued in China and Vietnam. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Indian rhino as "vulnerable."
Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam is home to 80% of the country's rhino population. Orang National Park holds 4%, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has 3%, and Manas National Park just 1%. The remaining rhino population in India is distributed among various national parks in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.
Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma attributed this growth to the state's conservation initiatives. “Rhinos are synonymous with the identity of Assam. They are our pride and the crown jewel of our biodiversity. Ever since we assumed office, we have taken various initiatives to protect the prized species, expand its habitat and ensure its safety,” Sarma wrote on X.
The government has expanded habitats and undertaken restoration efforts. An additional 200.7 sq km was added to Orang National Park, 195 sq km to Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, and 12.8 sq km of rhino habitat in the Laokhowa-Burachapori complex has been restored and cleared of encroachments.
Efforts have also been made to reduce poaching, which has dropped by 86% since 2016, according to Sarma. “Assam's rhinos are safer than ever,” he wrote.
The one-horned Asian rhino population in India has grown from 1,500 to over 4,000 in the last four decades due to conservation and anti-poaching efforts. There were only 600 left in the 1960s. India's forest department and local communities have played a significant role in this achievement.
Rhinos, which can weigh up to 2,800 kilograms and live around 50 years, are mainly found in grasslands, swamps, and riverine forests in India's east and Nepal. Globally, their numbers have decreased from 500,000 in the early 20th century to about 28,000 today.
Despite the progress, rhinos are still threatened by poaching. Their horns are used in traditional medicine and are particularly valued in China and Vietnam. The International Union for Conservation of Nature classifies the Indian rhino as "vulnerable."
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