Assam will mark September 22 as Rhino Day

The Assam government will be observing September 22 as Rhino Day to generate public awareness on protection of one-horned rhinoceros (pachyderm) — the pride of the state. It was announced at the 10th meeting of State Board for Wildlife chaired by Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal. The day will be dedicated to approximately 2,500 rhino population in state. State government is also launch State Rhino Project in line with National Rhino Project for protecting them from threats of poaching.

One-horned rhinoceros

One-horned rhinoceros is the largest of the Asian Rhinos. Its preferred habitat is alluvial flood plains and areas containing tall grasslands along the foothills of the Himalayas. Formerly, they were extensively distributed in the Gangetic plains, but now they are restricted to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and North Bengal, and Assam.
They are found in Kaziranga, Orang, Pobitara, Jaldapara (in Assam), Dudhwa (UP) National Park. Kaziranga National Park hosts two-thirds of the world’s Great One-horned rhinoceros (68% of worldwide population). It has been listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species.

Month: Current Affairs - February, 2018