Context -

• The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) in its annual 'State of the Rhino' report for 2023, released two days before World Rhino Day, said the rhino population in India, Bhutan and Nepal is increasing and is estimated to reach 4,014.
• Reasons for this include strong security, wildlife crime law enforcement and habitat expansion, etc.

 Background -

Major threats -

• In Africa -
• Illegal hunting
• Habitat destruction
• Climate change induced drought etc.

In Asia -

• Climate disruption
• Increased rainfall
• Long monsoon period
• Seasonal floods
• Severe storm
• Risk of diseases
• Landscape-level threats from invasive species to the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros.
• Increase in cases of poaching as a means of earning income due to poverty due to crop loss and reduction in livestock.
• Forest fire in dry areas.

 Rhinoceros in India -

• One-horned Rhinoceros - Vulnerable in the IUCN Red Data List.
• State- Assam, West Bengal, Bihar.
• Rhino habitats in India – Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and Kaziranga National Park.

 Efforts of Government of India -

• New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhino
• DNA profiling of all rhinos
• Rhino Corridor
• Indian Rhino Vision 2020
• Translocation of rhinos to Manas corridor in 2024.

The way forward -

• Preventing illegal hunting.
• Special focus on habitat conservation.
• Encouraging community participation.
• Efforts to build capacity.
• Implementing a holistic strategy for the protection of rhinos etc.

 Exam oriented Static facts

 5 species of rhinoceros

• -Black rhinoceros
• Great one horned rhinoceros
• White rhinoceros
• Sumatran Rhinoceros
• Javan rhinoceros 

 World Rhino Day22 September

• Every year since 2011
• Announced by WWF in 2010