Why in the News?
- On World Rhino Day, the Prime Minister highlighted conservation efforts for the greater one-horned rhinoceros and announced the initiation of Project Rhino.
- The project will provide financial and technical support to rhino range states for species conservation.
Key Highlights
- Species: Greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- Assam: Holds nearly 80% of the world’s rhino population.
- Kaziranga: Its efforts to combat rhino poaching have been widely appreciated.
- Rhinos have either returned or are well protected in parts of:
- Bihar
- West Bengal
- Dudhwa, Uttar Pradesh: Successful reintroduction of rhinos highlighted as an important conservation achievement.
- Project Rhino: Initiated to strengthen species conservation through financial and technical support to range states.
Project Rhino
- Provides support for:
- Rhino protection
- Habitat management
- Genetic improvement
- Understanding population dynamics
- Focuses on supporting rhino range states.
- Aims to strengthen active wildlife management and species conservation.
Rhino Conservation in India
- Assam: Major stronghold of the world’s greater one-horned rhino population.
- Kaziranga: Important for rhino protection and anti-poaching efforts.
- Bihar and West Bengal: Rhino populations have either returned or remain protected in parts of these states.
- Dudhwa, Uttar Pradesh: Rhino reintroduction has been highlighted as a conservation success.
Prelims Quick Revision
- World Rhino Day: Associated with conservation of rhinos.
- Species highlighted: Greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- Assam: Nearly 80% of the world’s rhino population.
- Kaziranga: Major focus on combating rhino poaching.
- Dudhwa: Successful rhino reintroduction in Uttar Pradesh.
- Project Rhino: Provides financial and technical support to range states.
- Key areas under Project Rhino: protection, habitat management, genetic improvement and population dynamics.
UPSC Prelims Trap
- Project Rhino in the article is specifically focused on conservation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
- Do not confuse rhino protection with only anti-poaching measures: Project Rhino also covers habitat management, genetic improvement and population dynamics.
- Dudhwa is associated with rhino reintroduction, while Kaziranga is highlighted for its anti-poaching efforts.
