The State Of The Rhino Report, 2023:
The greater one-horned rhino population in India and Nepal is growing, as highlighted in the State of the Rhino Report, 2023, by the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).
- While poaching and habitat loss remain significant threats to rhinos globally, climate change is also impacting their survival.
- The collaboration among India, Bhutan, and Nepal, along with strict government protection and management, has led to a 20 per cent increase in their population over the past decade. India is estimated to be home to 3,262 rhinos.
- Black rhino populations are increasing despite poaching pressure.
- However, South Africa is grappling with devastating poaching losses of its white rhinos, particularly in certain reserves.
- One concerning aspect highlighted in the report is that the status and whereabouts of 12 of the approximately 76 remaining Javan rhinos are unknown.
- Sumatran rhinos are also increasingly difficult to find, raising uncertainty about their population in the wild.
- The report underscores the need for continued efforts to protect and conserve rhinos and their habitats, address poaching, and mitigate the effects of climate change to ensure the survival of these iconic species.
