Indian rhinoceros

Why in news?

• The ambitious Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020) came to a close on Tuesday morning with the release of two rhinos — an adult male and a female — in Assam’s Manas National Park transported from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary about 185 km to the east.

About IRV2020:

• Designed in 2005, the IRV2020 aimed at attaining a population of 3,000 rhinos in Assam.
• The project was designed by conservationists, alongside the Bodoland Territorial Council and the Government of Assam.
• It also aimed to spread Rhinoceros population beyond  protected areas like Kaziranga National Park, Orang National Park and Pobitora to new sanctuaries like Manas and Laokhowa.
• While Manas has a stable population now, plans to introduce or reintroduce the rhino in three protected areas — Laokhowa, Burachapori Wildlife Sanctuary and Dibru-Saikhowa National Park — have not worked out.

Prelims 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 to the Prelims Question