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| credit: The Hindu |
A census released recently says the population of Indian one-horned rhinos
(Rhinocerous unicornis) has increased by 27% since 2006 in the face of an epidemic of poaching. Assam's rhino population is now officially pegged at 2,544 this year, up from only 200 in the early 1900s. This year 18 rhinos have been killed by poachers. The state government says it is doing more to stop poaching by increasing manpower in Kaziranga National Park, enhancing penalties for poaching, and allowing forest rangers to use deadly force. Kaziranga is home to 60% of the entire population of one-horned rhinos that also inhabit Nepal. They are the world's largest rhino species and were moved from the endangered to the vulnerable category in 2008 because of their rising population. India's government has pledged a goal of 3,000 rhinos by 2020, a target it will meet if the current trend continues.