Rhinoceros are large and heavy land animals and are odd toed hoofed mammals. They have a herbivorous diet and largely feed on leaves, stems, grasses. They are characterized by one or two horns and a thick protective skin covering that are formed from layers of collagen. Unfortunately, rhino poaching has decimated their populations around the world. Their keratin “horns” has been the main driver of rhino poaching.
The 5 Species of Rhinos
There is an estimated 27,000 rhinos found globally with 3,700 individuals recorded in India. There are five species found across Asia and Africa. The white and black rhinos are found in Africa, while the one horned , Javan and Sumatran Rhino are found in Asia.
The white rhino ( Ceratotherium simum) is considered “Near Threatened” while the black rhino (Diceros bicornis) is “Critically Endangered”. Meanwhile, the Javan and Sumatran are amonst the rarest mammals in the world. They are on the verge of extinction due to habitat loss and the illegal wildlife trade. The one horned or Indian rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) are listed as Vulnerable.
Figure 1: Kaziranga has been the stronghold of India’s fight against rhino poaching. (Photo credits: Dipasha Patiri)
What drives rhino poaching?
Rhino poaching occurs for one primary reason – the demand of their horns. These measures an average of 20cm in height and 720 gm in weight. The horns are a cemented mass of hair present on the top of the snout. The horn is not conjoined with the skull, thus making it easier for the poachers to hack the horn off. Initially rhino poaching occured as sport and legal hunting was allowed until 1932. However, from the onset of the 20th century, conservation measures were implemented and legal hunting was ban.
The horns are in great demand in Asia, mainly in China and Vietnam, due to traditional beliefs. Rhino horns are considered to have medicinal benefits in China and has been used for more than 2000 years. It is used to treat fever, rheumatism, gout, snakebites, hallucinations, typhoid and food poisoning.
Research carried out by TRAFFIC and WWF, reported thatt Vietnamese people believed that when the horn is crushed to powder it can be used to cure Cancer. According to another survey carried out by TRAFFIC the demand of rhino horns is found to have mainly based on emotional rather than medicinal benefits to reaffirm people’s social status.
India’s successfully curbs rhino poaching
India was once home to all three species of rhinos found in Asia However, now, only the Greater One Horned Rhinos are found in the subcontinent. While the populations of the Javan, Sumatran rhinos have crashed, the Greater One Horned and White Rhino populations have skyrocketed from the brinks of extinction. The range of the Greater One horned Rhino is concentrated to small habitats in Indo-Nepal terai and northern West Bengal and Assam. Of the 3700 rhinos recorded in India, Assam’s Kaziranga National Park holds the largest habitat for the species with 2613 individuals.
Rhino poaching, coupled with habitat loss in Assam was one of the biggest threats. Poaching is chiefly carried out by hiring sharpshooters that uses riffles and swords and ammunition. Other less common methods include trapping the animal in a pit, electrocuting using high voltage powerlines and poisoning with rat poison and pesticides. However, India has successfully tackled this issue. Much of the wildlife poaching in Assam was funded by large criminal syndicates. Poachers generally were heavily armed in this region.
In a historical event, Assam reported did not report a single case of rhino poaching in 2022, for the first time in 20-25 years. This was achieved by the Assam Government forming a 22 member task force headed by a special Director General of Police and for vigilence and strict action against the poachers armed commandos were deployed. Unfortunately, questions were raised regarding the “militarization” of conservation by certain groups.
Overall, rhino poaching across Asia declined substansially betwen 2018 and 2022. As a result the critically endangered Javan Rhino has also seen a substansial population increase since 2017. Unfortunately, the population of Sumatran Rhinos has been declining 13% annually due to causes other than poaching.
What next for rhino conservation in Asia?
The New Delhi Declaration on Asian Rhinos 2019 was signed to conserve the species by the five rhino range nations namely India, Bhutan, Nepal, Indonesia and Malaysia and a National Rhino Conservation was launched in 2019. A program named Indian Rhino Vision (IRV) 2020 was launched in 2005 with an aim to attain a wild population of at least 3000 greater one horned rhinoceros in the seven protected areas of Assam by the year 2020.
Wild to Wild translocations was an important part of the IRV 2020 PROGRAM. The translocation of rhinos helped Manas National Park in Assam to get back its World Heritage Site Status in 2011. The Seven protected areas are Kaziranga, Pobitora, Orang National Park, Manas National Park, Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary, Burachapori wildlife sanctuary and Dibru Saikhowa wildlife sanctuary.
What about Africa?
The siutation in Africa is a lot more grim, Around 2707 rhinos were poached across Africa between 2018 and 2021. Botswana has recorded a 100% increase in rhino poaching between 2018 to 2021. Namibia has observed similar trends. This is certainly concerning, given the immense success in tackling rhino poaching in southern Africa. Meanwhile, some countries, such as Uganda, have reported increases in rhino populaiton. Nonetheless, the situation in Africa is currently fairly murky, and many countries and conservation groups are yet to publish their recent data o nrhino poaching. It is therefore prudent to wait before assuming the greater picture.
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Written by: Dipasha Patiri