Indian Rhinoceros

Subject: Environment

Context:

Assam Chief Minister has recently announced that no rhinos were poached in the state in 2022.

More about Indian Rhinoceros

The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal, and parts of southern Nepal.
It has a single black horn that can grow up to 60 cm, and a tough, grey-brown hide with skin folds, which gives the animal its characteristic armour-plated look.
The Indian rhino is listed as vulnerable in the IUCN Red List, it was earlier placed in the endangered category.
It is listed as a Schedule I animal in the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
According to the WWF, there are around 3,700 Indian rhinos in the wild today. Assam’s Kaziranga National Park alone has 2,613 animals, according to a census carried out in March 2022. There are more than 250 other rhinos in the Orang, Pobitora, and Manas parks.

Why are Rhinos poached

Rhinos have been poached for their horn, which is prized in some cultures.
Ground rhino horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine to cure a range of ailments, from cancer to hangovers, and also as an aphrodisiac.
In Vietnam, possessing a rhino horn is considered a status symbol

What are the Conservation Efforts by India:

The Ministry of Environment and Forests has launched a National Conservation Strategy for Indian One-Horned Rhino.
Moreover, the Assam government constituted a Special Rhino Protection Force to keep a check on rhino poaching and related activities at Kaziranga National Park (KNP).
India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia in order to conserve and protect the rhinos signed the New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019.
Through unique programmes like Indian Rhino Vision 2020 the government partnered with international, national and local organizations for the conservation of the rhinos.