World Rhino Day | 22 Sep 2021

Why in News

World Rhino Day is observed on 22^th September to spread awareness for all five species of rhino and work being done to save them.

Key Points

• It was first announced by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) - South Africa in 2010. The species of rhinoceros are on the verge of extinction due to persistent poaching and habitat loss over several decades.
• There are five species of rhino – white and black rhinos in Africa, and the greater one-horned, Javan and Sumatran rhino species in Asia.
  
  • IUCN Red List Status:
    
    • White Rhino: Near Threatened.
    • Black Rhino: Critically endangered.
    • Greater One Horned: Vulnerable.
    • Javan: Critically Endangered
    • Sumatran Rhino: Critically Endangered
• Theme 2021: Keep the five Alive.
• Objectives: Strengthening protection, Expanding the distribution range, Research and monitoring, Adequate and sustained funding.

Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros

• About:
  
  • Also known as Indian rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species. It is identified by a single black horn and a grey-brown hide with skin folds. India is home to the largest number of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in the world.
  • They primarily graze, with a diet consisting almost entirely of grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.
  • At present, there are about 2,600 Indian rhinos in India, with more than 90% of the population concentrated in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.
• Habitat:
  
  • The species is restricted to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and northern West Bengal and Assam.
  • In India, rhinos are mainly found in Kaziranga NP, Pobitora WLS, Orang NP, Manas NP in Assam, Jaldapara NP and Gorumara NP in West Bengal and Dudhwa TR in Uttar Pradesh.
• Threats:
  
  • Poaching for the horns
  • Habitat loss
  • Population density
  • Decreasing Genetic diversity
• Protection Status:
  
  • IUCN Red List: Vulnerable.
  • CITES: Appendix-I
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I.
• Conservation Efforts by India:
  
  • New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 201’: India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia have signed a declaration for the conservation and protection of the species.
  • DNA profiles of all rhinos: The project will help in curbing poaching and gathering evidence in wildlife crimes involving rhinos.
  • National Rhino Conservation Strategy: It was launched in 2019 to conserve the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
  • Indian Rhino Vision 2020: It was an ambitious effort 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.

Source: IE