Prelims: Current events of national and international importance | Environment
Why in News?
Recently, Assam Chief Minister announced that the state is home to 3,260 one‑horned rhinoceroses, accounting for ~80% of the global population.
Key Statistics for Assam
- Assam is home to approximately 3,260 rhinoceroses.
- The global rhinoceros population is estimated at approximately 4,075, as cited in the report.
- Consequently, Assam accounts for approximately 80 percent of the global rhinoceros population.
- Kaziranga National Park contains more than 2,600 rhinoceroses.
- Manas National Park supports an estimated 40 to 50 rhinoceroses.
- In 2025, there were zero reported cases of rhinoceros poaching in Assam.
- Reportedly, this marks only the second instance since the 1970s in which Assam recorded zero rhinoceros poaching cases within a single year.
State of the Rhino Report 2026 by International Rhino Foundation (IRF) confirms zero rhino poaching in 2025 across India, Nepal, Indonesia.
Reference
The Hindu | One-Horned Rhinoceros
