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 lossThe 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 endangeredGreater 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:
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 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 :
News Source: TH
