World Rhino Day & its Conservation Measures

Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Species

Why in news?

Prime Minister of India highlights India’s commitment to protecting the greater one-horned rhinoceros on World Rhino Day.

World Rhino Day – It is celebrated globally every year on September 22 to raise awareness for the five remaining rhinoceros species and their conservation.
Theme for 2026 – "Keep the Five Alive".
5 Rhino Species – Black rhino, White rhino, Greater one-horned (Indian) rhino, Sumatran rhino, and Javan rhino.
Conservation Status of Rhinos

India’s measures to conserve Rhinos

Rhino DNA Index System (RhODIS) – It is used to create genetic profiles of rhinos and support wildlife crime investigations, help officials track parentage, assess genetic diversity and reduce the risk of inbreeding in isolated populations.
1340 DNA samples have so far been collected and called an "outstanding performance" under the RhoDIS programme.
Rhino population status – According to a 2025 International Rhino Foundation report shared with the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC) –

Rhino population.upsc

National Rhino Conservation Strategy (NRCS) – Launched in Feb 2019 with a focus on population recovery, expanding the species' range, strengthening protection and improving transboundary cooperation with Nepal and Bhutan.
It also provided dedicated funding for rhino conservation (Earlier, there was no specific fund allocation for rhinos).
Manas Rhino Conservation Success Story – Manas National Park, Assam - now home to 50 rhinos; 20 years ago, it had no one-horned rhinos due to rampant poaching between 1989 and 2001.
Under Indian Rhino Vision 2020 – A rhino reintroduction programme launched in 2006 helped increase the population to about 48 rhinos, and the park has also recorded three consecutive years of zero poaching.
India-Bhutan Cooperation – Some rhinos from Manas are frequently moving into Bhutan, creating a need for a joint conservation mechanism between India and Bhutan.
Shared Transboundary Landscape – Manas Tiger Reserve (2,837 sq km) & Manas National Park (core area of 500 sq km) of Assam, India and Royal Manas National Park (1,057 sq km), Bhutan.

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