Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros in its natural habitat in Kaziranga National Park in India. Photo Credit: Abhishek Singh/Getty Images
Animals IndiaConservation Triumph: One-Horned Rhino Thrives Again
Thanks to conservation and anti-poaching efforts, the population of one-horned Asian rhinos has nearly tripled in India over the past few decades.
“The greater one-horned rhino in India has made a remarkable comeback,” says a government statement. “This conservation success story is the result of relentless efforts by the forest department and local communities.”
In the 1960s, only 600 one-horned Asian rhinos were left in India. Then, four decades ago, Government figures estimated that approximately 1,500 individuals were roaming India’s lands. Today, over 4,000 call India home. Kaziranga Conservation Park in India’s remote northeast Assam state is estimated to be the home of 80 per cent of the world’s one-horned rhino population. Conservation efforts were critical for this species when numbers were dwindling. Despite efforts in India, the population of rhinos globally continues to decline. Perhaps other nations worldwide will soon adopt similar measures to ensure this animal is protected for decades.