2022
The greater one-horned rhino is a species that has recovered from fewer than 100 individuals in northern India and the lowlands of Nepal to roughly 3,740 animals today, thanks to strict protection and conservation measures. Though the greater one-horned rhino population is growing, the species is still classified as vulnerable. Poaching remains a significant threat, and the species has been driven from many of the areas where it used to be common. Its full recovery depends not only on protecting rhinos where they have managed to survive, but also reintroducing them to places from which they’ve disappeared.
The International Rhino Foundation (IRF) began working with the government of Assam, India in 2005 to increase the rhino population to 3,000 individuals by establishing populations in new areas. We successfully expanded the greater one-horned rhino population in three protected areas and established a new population in Manas National Park after the final translocation of two rhinos in April 2021.
With support from the Stichting DierenPark Amersfoort Wildlife Fund, the International Rhino Foundation will continue its work with the Assam Government and local partners by implementing a new strategy, Indian Rhino Vision 2.0 (IRV2.0). This project seeks to secure and manage a minimum of three meta-populations with a total population of 4,500-5,000 greater one-horned rhinos in Assam by 2030. Further, IRF will expand greater one-horned rhino habitat in India and Nepal through community involvement in grassland habitat restoration – removing invasive plant species which choke out native rhino food plants.
2012
The Indian rhino is the pride of India’s grasslands, unfortunately the numbers of these animals in the wild are in serious decline. To combat the decline in the population of rhinos in the Manas National Park, the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) has initiated a project.
This project, called Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020), has ensured that in the period from January 2012 to April 2012 another 8 rhinos have been successfully relocated to the Manas National Park. A total of 22 rhinos have now been transported.
The Wildlife Fund has so far funded the transport of 7 of these animals. The IRF’s goal is to have at least 3,000 rhinos roaming the area by 2020.
