Septemeber 22 marks the World Rhino day, as announced by the World Wildlife Fund-South Africa in 2010. This was created as an attempt to generate awareness about the endangered animal, with all its 5 species, black, white, greater one-horned, Sumatran and Javan. The aim was to ignite consciousness as to the horrors on poaching on a global scale.

READ I Rohit Sharma bats for Rhino conservation, will launch Rohit4Rhinos

Endangered Animal

According to World Wildlife (WWF) figures, despite conservation efforts, "Africa is losing an average of three rhinos a day to the ongoing poaching crisis."

According to a report by WWF, two species of rhino in Asia, Javan, and Sumatran are critically endangered. However, successful conservation efforts have helped the third Asian species, the greater one-horned (or Indian) rhino, to increase in number. Their status was changed from Endangered to Vulnerable, but the species is still poached for its horn.

The report also revealed that in Africa, the western black rhino and northern white rhinos have recently gone extinct in the wild. The only three remaining northern white rhino are kept under 24-hour guard in Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Black rhinos have doubled in number over the past two decades from their low point of fewer than 2,500 individuals, but total numbers are still a fraction of the estimated 100,000 that existed in the early part of the 20th century.

READ I China reverses their 25-year ban on using Rhino horns and Tiger bones under "special circumstances"

Menace of Poaching 

A study conducted by the University of Copenhagen discovered that rhinos are poached due to the immense demand arising out of its perceived medicinal value in some places, despite there being no truth to this claim.

"From treating cancer and erectile dysfunction to managing hangovers, the horns of endangered wild rhinoceros are widely used as a medical cure-all in parts of Asia."

"Powdered horn is believed to have healing properties and can fetch up to €67,000 per kilogram", explained the report.

READ I Snakelike robot may help save white rhinos from extinction

Situation in Assam

Rhino poaching in Assam is one of the major environmental issues in India. Assam accounts to almost 95 per cent of the total population of the greater one-horned (or Indian) rhino in the world. The poaching of the animal gained traction in the 19th and 20th century and despite the prohibition in the 20th century, it continued. Vietnam provides a thriving market for illegal rhino trade as the Vietnamese believe that the horn of the Rhino provided remedies for fever and liver problems, including cancer. 

Apart from the poaching, floods also are a major cause to this situation as every year during the monsoon, the Kaziranga National park, which houses a majority of the rhino, is devasted by floods, causing an immeasurable loss in the animal's lives.

According to the Kaziranga National park blog, "More than 90 rhinos were killed from 2013 till 2017."

However, after repeated measures taken by the government and NGOs to spread awareness, appeal to the consciousness of the people, and adopt stringent enforcement strategies, the population of the one-horned rhino has increased considerably. 

In 2012, statistics had recorded 2,505 rhinos in Assam. In 2016, this vulnerable animal in Assam was raised to a population of 3,500, according to the Kaziranga National park blog.

In an effort to further increase the population of the vulnerable animal species, the government is planning to create new habitats in and around Assam. As the population increases, the rhino has less area to roam around and may also encroach areas occupied by other animals. In this regard, protected areas are being planned and are looked after by Indian Rhino Vision 2020 in partnership with Assam Forest Department, according to the Kaziranga National park blog.

READ I Assam Floods: Wildlife affected at Kaziranga National Park; conservationists highlight threat of roadkills & poaching

READ I Assam floods: Kaziranga National Park Animals also affected, visuals emerge of their struggle amidst neck-deep water