22 Assam rhinos killed in 5 years

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