UPSC Articles
22 Assam rhinos killed in 5 years
Part of: Prelims and GS -III- Conservation
In news Poachers have killed 22 one-horned rhinos in Assam since 2017,
- The government had set up 10 fast-track sessions courts over the years for speedy trials of wildlife- related crimes.
About Rhino
- There are three species of rhino in Asia — Greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran.
- India is home to the largest number of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in the world
- Two greatest threats: Poaching for the horns and habitat loss
- The five rhino range nations: India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia.
- These Nations have signed a declaration ‘The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019’ for the conservation and protection of the species.
Protection Status
- IUCN Red List
- Javan and Sumatran Rhino: Critically endangered
- Greater one-horned rhino: vulnerable
- All three are listed under Appendix I (CITES).
- Greater one-horned rhino: Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
- In India, rhinos are mainly found in:
- Assam: Kaziranga National Park (NP), Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (WLS), Orang NP and Manas NP,
- West Bengal: Jaldapara NP and Gorumara NP
- Uttar Pradesh: Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
Conservation Efforts by India
- Recently, the Ministry of Environment Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) has begun a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country.
- National Rhino Conservation Strategy: It was launched in 2019 to conserve the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- Indian Rhino Vision 2020: It was launched in 2005. Aim: To attain a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos spread over seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by the year 2020.
Other Protected Areas in Assam:
- Dibru-Saikhowa National Park
- Manas National Park
- Nameri National Park
- Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park
- Kaziranga National Park.
News Source: TH
