The Asian Rhino Specialist Group (AsRSG) announced that the greater unicorn
Rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis), found only in India, Nepal and Bhutan, have increased
to 4,014 people after a semi-annual survey was completed in early 2022.
“The population is growing mainly due to the governments of India and Nepal
Habitat for rhinos while preventing poaching,” AsRg was quoted as saying in the State of Rhino Report, published by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).
From the 1980s to 2022, the unicorn rhino population has increased by 167 percent.
Each September, the IRF publishes the State of the Rhino report, which documents current population estimates and trends when available, as well as key challenges and conservation developments for the five surviving rhino species in Africa and Asia.
The current population of Greater unicorn rhinos in India:
- Kaziranga National Park: 2613
- Orang National Park: 125
- Pobitora Wildlife Reserve: 107
- Manas National Park: 40
- Jaldapara National Park: 287
- Gorumara National Park: 52
- Dudhwa National Park: 38
“Poaching remains a threat, but authorities in India have significantly reduced poaching through intensive security measures and strict enforcement of wildlife crime laws. In 2021 there was only one documented poaching incident. Also in the first half of 2022 there was only one recorded incident,” the report said.
Habitat management, especially controlling invasive species, is also paramount to rhino recovery in India. Programs at several parks, including Kaziranga and Manas, are working to restore grasslands to rhinos. India and Nepal are also sharing best practices to combat invasive species.
Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020), the program established in 2005 to increase Assam’s rhino population to 3,000 by establishing populations in seven protected areas, ended in 2021 with the final translocation of two rhinos from Kaziranga National Park to the Manas national park. Thanks to IRV2020, rhinos can now be found in four protected areas in Assam: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park.
“In 2022, the IRV2020 partners met to outline goals and make plans for the coming years
build on the achievements and learnings from the previous program. approve meetings
Known as IRV 2.0, the plan has been delayed due to the global pandemic, but it is new
The program is set to begin soon under the direction of the Assam Forest Department,
along with supporting partners, and translocations could start again by the end of
year,” the report says.
Nepal completed a nationwide census of the greater unicorn rhino in 2021 and the population now stands at 752, an increase of 107 from the previous survey in 2015. Rhinos in Nepal are found in Chitwan National Park, Parsa National Park and Bardia National Park and Shuklaphanta National Park. The Bardia
and Shuklaphanta rhino populations were established through reintroductions.
“The population of the greater unicorn rhino is gradually increasing at a rate of 3% per
year in Nepal,” says the report.
“Changing climate situations are affecting rhino habitat, including an increase in invasive plant species taking over grasslands and the loss of traditional watering holes due to dry conditions. There are programs to restore native grass species and waterholes to further increase the carrying capacity of rhinos in Chitwan and other areas,” the report said.
Officials are forecasting a sustained growth rate of 3-5% for the country’s rhino populations and hope habitat management activities will help them surpass that target. Poaching and the illegal wildlife trade remain a threat to wildlife in Nepal.
Bhutan
Manas National Park lies on the border between India and the Kingdom of Bhutan.
Rhinos are known to move between countries and are included in the population
Figures for India. Bhutan is an active member of the Asian Rhino Range States, a group of nations working together to ensure sustainable populations of each of the three Asian rhino species. Bhutan, India and Nepal are working together to unify transboundary management strategy for the great unicorn rhino.
KEY FINDINGS OF THE State of the Rhino Report
- The population of the great one-horned rhino exceeded 4,000 individuals in India and Nepal.
- The world’s last remaining population of Javan rhinos has remained stable but has faced threats such as human encroachment and inadequate habitat.
- Experts estimate a 13% decline for Sumatran rhinos.
- The white rhino population in Africa continued to decline under pressure from poaching.
- Africa’s black rhino population grew across the continent.
- The illegal rhino horn trade has fueled poaching, with an estimated 1,000 rhino horns being traded each year.
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