The Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020) program has recently concluded with the translocation of two rhinos to Manas National Park in Assam. This particular instance marked the eighth round of rhino translocation under IRV2020.
Overview of Indian Rhino Vision 2020
Initiated in 2005, the ambitious IRV2020 aimed to amass a wild population of at least 3,000 greater one-horned rhinos distributed across seven protected areas in the Indian state of Assam by 2020. These seven protected areas included Kaziranga, Pobitora, Orang National Park, Manas National Park, Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary, Burachapori wildlife sanctuary, and Dibru Saikhowa wildlife sanctuary.
A crucial aspect of the IRV2020 project entailed wild-to-wild translocations – these were moves made to decrease the density of rhinos in parks like Kaziranga NP and increase their population in parks that needed more rhinos, as was the case for Manas NP.
This noble initiative was a collaborative venture between various organizations such as the International Rhino Foundation, Assam’s Forest Department, Bodoland Territorial Council, World Wide Fund – India, and the US Fish and Wildlife Service.
Performance and Impact of IRV2020
The target of reaching a population count of 3,000 rhinos was nearly achieved, but the species could only be reintroduced to one out of the four proposed protected areas. The plan to distribute the Greater one-horned rhino across four protected areas beyond Kaziranga NP, Orang NP, and Pobitora did not materialize as expected.
On a positive note, however, the translocated rhinos enabled Manas National Park to regain its World Heritage Site status in 2011. The years 2018 and 2019 witnessed significant drop in poaching, thanks to the coordinated efforts of forestry, local and national government officials in fighting wildlife crime across Assam.
About Greater One-Horned Rhino
Asia is home to three rhino species – the Greater one-horned (Rhinoceros unicornis), Javan, and Sumatran. Poaching for horns and habitat destruction are the two prime threats to these species’ survival.
The five rhino range nations – India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia, and Malaysia have endorsed a declaration termed ‘The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019’ to conserve and protect these species.
Protection Status
While the Javan and Sumatran Rhinos are critically endangered, the Greater one-horned (or Indian) rhino is listed as vulnerable under the IUCN Red List. All three species are listed under Appendix I (CITES). Furthermore, the Greater one-horned rhino also finds a place under the Schedule I of the Wildlife Protection Act, 1972.
Habitat of Greater One-Horned Rhino
This species usually inhibits small habitats in the Indo-Nepal terai and northern West Bengal and Assam. In India, these rhinos primarily reside in Kaziranga NP, Pobitora WLS, Orang NP, Manas NP in Assam, Jaldapara NP and Gorumara NP in West Bengal, and Dudhwa TR in Uttar Pradesh.