Context:
International Rhino Foundation (IRF) released State of the Rhino 2024 Report.
Key findings of the report:
- With all 5 species combined, there are just under 28,000 rhinos left in world.
- Number of white rhinos increased but greater one-horned rhino (Indian Rhino) number remained same.
- White rhino populations in South Africa are on rise despite poaching.
- Slight population decline of Black Rhinos due to heavy poaching in Namibia and South Africa.
- Rhino poaching in Africa increased by 4% from 2022 to 2023.
Rhino:
- Out of 5 species of Rhino, 3 rhino species are found in Asia namely Sumatran rhino, Javan rhino and Indian rhino.
- Asian rhinos are excellent swimmers and can easily swim across rivers.
- Indian rhino is largest of all rhino species and commonly found in India (Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh), Nepal, Bhutan, and Pakistan.
- Protected under – Schedule I of Wildlife Protection Act, 1972
- Threat – Habitat loss, poaching for rhino horn and climate change.
- Rhino conservation initiatives –
- National Rhino Conservation Strategy 2019 to conserve Indian rhinoceros.
- New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019 – India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia have signed a declaration for the conservation and protection of the species.
- Indian Rhino Vision 2020 is a joint program of Assam Forest Department, World Wide Fund for Nature – India (WWF-India) and IRF to increase rhino population.
- World Rhino Day – Observed on 22nd September to spread awareness for all five species of rhino and work being done to save them.
Source: IRF
Previous Year Question
Consider the following statements:
1. Asiatic lion is naturally found in India only.
2. Double-humped camel is naturally found in India only.
3. One-horned rhinoceros is naturally found in India only.
Which of the statements given above is/are correct?
[UPSC Civil Services Exam – 2019 Prelims]
(a) 1 only
(b) 2 only
(c) 1 and 3 only
(d) 1, 2 and 3
Answer: (a)
Explanation:
Double-humped camel is also found in cold desert areas across Central Asia and China.
One-horned rhinoceros is also found in Nepal.
