India and Nepal

Greater one-horned, or Indian, rhinos were once found from Eastern Pakistan, through India, Nepal, Bhutan and Bangladesh, and into Myanmar. However, by the start of the 20th century, the population had decreased to about 200 individuals as the result of poaching, habitat destruction, and human encroachment. With strict protection by Indian and Nepalese wildlife authorities, the population of greater one-horned rhinos has rebounded in the two countries, and there are now more than 2,500 rhinos in 13 groups distributed between northern India and Nepal.

Unfortunately, however, this population is not distributed evenly.  More that 85% of the Indian rhino population inhabits one protected area, Kaziranga National Park in Assam, India, exposing the population to the risk that a single catastrophe such as a flood or disease outbreak could lead to serious population decline again. Additionally, a smaller population of rhinos (approximately 100) living in Pabitora National Park have exceeded the park’s carrying capacity, leading to an increased risk of rhino-human conflicts as animals move out of the park and into agricultural areas to forage for food. In several other parks with small rhino populations (including Manas, Laokhowa and Orang), political and ethnic conflicts have resulted in increased poaching.

IRF’s Work in India

Patrol unit monitoring Indian rhino.

The International Rhino Foundation and its partners (including the Government of India and the World Wildlife Fund) have launched Indian Rhino Vision 2020, with the goal of increasing the population of Indian rhinos to 3,000 by the year 2020 and translocating animals in order spread the population out more evenly over at least seven national parks. 

During the first 3-year phase of this program, IRF and partners are working to improve rhino protection in all national parks and to translocate 20-30 rhinos from Kaziranga and Pabitora to Manas National Park where they will be protected and monitored.

As a first step, program staff conducted a security assessment of Manas National Park to determine potential threats and make recommendations for protection measures. (No rhinos will be moved to the park until it is certain that they will be fully secure and protected in their new home.) Recognizing that successful conservation efforts will be heavily dependent on both government and community support and involvement, we are working with local community organizations and government and park authorities to implement the improved security recommendations. As a result, support for moving rhinos to Manas in the local administration and among local communities has grown and the Manas security scenario has improved significantly.

The Bodo Tribal Council (the traditional local governing body) has committed to build and staff 13 new guard posts in the park, while the Government of Assam has agreed to construct five anti-poaching camps. Government authorities are also reorganizing the staffing structure for Manas National Park, and have agreed to boost park staff by around 120 people.

In order to facilitate the translocation of rhinos to Manas, a private tourist lodge will help develop appropriate infrastructure, and IRV 2020 our staff are now completing the collection of basic data on the rhino population, with information on demographics, habitats, land use patterns, and seasonal movements. We will also train the Assam Forest Department Staff in translocation of rhinos, relying heavily upon technology transfer from Nepal, where government programs have already successfully translocated this species.

Current plans are to translocate the first group of rhinos to Manas National Park in early 2008, where they will then be radio-collared and regularly monitored to gauge the success of the reintroduction process. Joint government/community patrol units will regularly patrol the park to prevent poaching and encroachment and to monitor the rhino population.

IRF’s Work in Nepal

IRF has funded a cooperative program with the Department of Parks and Wildlife Conservation, the World Wildlife Fund, and the King Mahendra Trust to improve rhino protection in Nepal and to translocate rhinos within the Terai Arc to spread the population out among multiple national parks. (Rhinos have primarily been moved from Royal Chitwan National Park, which has the largest rhino population in Nepal, to other protected areas such as Royal Bardia National Park.)

IRF needs your help to continue operating rhino translocation and security programs in India and Nepal. Visit our donate page to learn more about how you can help us protect Indian rhinos.