Indian Rhinos

Why in news?

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

About Indian Rhinos:

• The Indian rhinoceros or greater one-horned rhinoceros is a rhinoceros species native to the Indian subcontinent.
• 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.
• Conservation Status:
  • IUCN Status: Vulnerable
  • CITES: Appendix I of CITES
  • Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
• It is found only in the Brahmaputra valley, parts of North Bengal and parts of southern Nepal.
• According to the World Wide Fund (WWF), there are around 3,700 Indian rhinos in the wild. Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) alone has 2,613 animals. There are more than 250 other rhinos in the Orang, Pobitora and Manas parks.
• Rhinos have been poached for their horn which is prized in some cultures. 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, a rhino horn is considered a status symbol.
• In 2019, the Assam government constituted a Special Rhino Protection Force to keep a check on rhino poaching and related activities at Kaziranga National Park (KNP).

PRACTICE QUESTION:

Consider the following statements regarding Indian rhinoceros:

1. It is found only in Kaziranga Wildlife sanctuary in India.

2. It is the largest extant species of rhinoceros.

Choose the correct statements from the codes given below:

(a) 1 only

(b) 2 only

(c) Both 1 and 2

(d) Neither 1 nor 2

Answer