Why protecting grasslands is central to protecting rhinos

The Indian Express highlights the importance of protecting grasslands for the conservation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros in India. The species is integral to the ecological and cultural landscape of the Brahmaputra and Terai regions, where its wild population is concentrated mainly in Assam, Uttar Pradesh, and West Bengal.

India, under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, is committed to expanding the rhino range and has launched the National Conservation Strategy for the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in 2019. This strategy focuses on strengthening existing populations, restoring the species to suitable former habitats, maintaining genetic security, promoting translocations, and building climate resilience into rhino conservation.

The story of the rhino in India is one of recovery, with its numbers increasing by nearly 170% from around 1,500 animals to more than 4,000 as of September 2024. The conservation efforts aim not only to consolidate existing populations but also to support the expansion of the species into suitable areas in Bihar and Arunachal Pradesh.

Brief written by urgent.news from The Indian Express's own syndicated text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.