NEWS – One-horned rhinos to get new homes soon

HIGHLIGHTS

Current Major Habitats

• Kaziranga National Park (Assam)
• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam)
• Jaldapara National Park (West Bengal)

These three areas currently hold the majority of India’s one-horned rhino population.

New Conservation Action Plan

• Prepared by the Wildlife Institute of India (Dehradun) in collaboration with rhino experts and forest departments.
• Aim: To reduce population pressure, enhance genetic health, and expand habitat range.

Key Strategies:

• Translocation of Rhinos to smaller sanctuaries in:
  • Arunachal Pradesh
  • Assam
  • Bihar
  • Uttar Pradesh
  • Uttarakhand

Proposed Donor Sites

• Kaziranga National Park
• Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
• Gorumara National Park

Translocation Plans:

• From Kaziranga to Jaldapara: 5 rhinos every 3 years.
• From Pobitora to Gorumara: 4 rhinos every 3 years.

Kaziranga’s Role

• Holds the largest population: 2,613 rhinos (as per 2022 census).
• Can safely donate up to 30 rhinos for reintroduction.
• Currently proposed: 14 rhinos annually
  (8 adult females, 3 sub-adult males, 3 adult males).

Benefits of Translocation:

• Reduces territorial aggression and intra-species conflict.
• Eases resource pressure on habitats.
• Improves genetic diversity among rhino populations.

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

• Highest rhino density in the world:
  • 107 individuals in just 16 sq. km.
• Translocation helps reduce:
  • Territorial aggression
  • Inbreeding
  • Disease risks
  • Human-rhino conflicts

ABOUT THE GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINO

Scientific Classification

• Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis
• Common Names: Greater one-horned rhinoceros, Indian rhinoceros

Distribution

• Found in India and Nepal, mainly in Himalayan foothills.
• Historically roamed across the Brahmaputra, Ganges, and Indus river valleys.
• Kaziranga holds the largest population (2,401 rhinos).

Habitat

• Semi-aquatic: Prefers swamps, grasslands, riverbanks, and mineral-rich areas.
• Often located near water sources.

Physical Features

• Weight: Up to 2,200 kg
• Height: 170–186 cm
• Length: 368–380 cm
• Horn: Single black horn, 8–25 inches long
• Appearance: Grey-brown skin with armor-like folds

Behavior & Diet

• Solitary species, except females with calves.
• Territorial males, but with loose boundaries.
• Primarily grazers, eating:
  • Grasses
  • Leaves
  • Fruit
  • Aquatic plants

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List: Vulnerable