Context: As per the latest census, the population of one-horned rhinos in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve (KNPTR) has increased by 200.
Key findings

• The report highlights the success in combating poaching of the mammals whose horns are used in Chinese medicine.
• The recent population of Rhino stood at 2,613 from 2,413 in 2018.
• KNPTR has a population density of one rhino per 0.2 square kilometre area.
• Orang national park recorded an increase of 24 rhinos from 101 to 125 now while in Pobitora wildlife sanctuary, from 102 to 107.

Kaziranga National Park

• It is located at Golaghat and Nagaon, in the Karbi Anglong district of Assam in northeast India.

Legal Status

• It was declared as a National Park in 1974.
• It has been declared a tiger reserve since 2007.

International Status

• It was declared a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1985.
• It is recognized as an Important Bird Area by Birdlife International.
• Flora- Water lilies, water hyacinth and lotus.
• Fauna- Tigers, elephants, swamp deer, wild water buffalo and one-horned rhinoceroses are found.
• Major river: The Brahmaputra River along with Diphlu, Mora Diphlu and Mora Dhansiri rivers passes through the park.

About One Horned Rhinoceros

• They are also known as the Indian Rhinoceros.
• They are the largest of the three Asian Rhinoceroses.
• Habitat: From northern Pakistan, across much of northern India, Nepal, northern Bangladesh, and Myanmar.
• It occurred mainly in alluvial grasslands, where the grass grew up to 8m tall. It was also found in adjacent swamps and forests.
• The main home of the one-horned rhino in India is in Assam where it can be found in Kaziranga National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and Orang National Park.

Features

• It has a single black horn about 8-25 inches long.
• A grey-brown hide with skin folds which gives it an armour-plated appearance.
• They primarily graze on grasses as well as leaves, branches of shrubs and trees, fruit, and aquatic plants.

Conservation Status

• IUCN Red List- Vulnerable
• CITES: Appendix I 
• Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I

Conservation efforts taken by Government

• Special Rhino Protection Force (SRPF)
• A team of 82 members was appointed by the Assam Government to control Rhino Poaching.
• The SRPF is also a tiger protecting force. 
• The salaries of the SRPF members are reimbursed by the National Tiger Conservation Authority (NTCA).