We participate in the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 international project, promoted by the International Rhino Foundation. This in situ conservation action aims to ensure that the wild population of Indian rhinoceroses that inhabit the seven protected areas of Assam reach at least 3,000 individuals of the species in 2020. Our collaboration in this project is part of the activity which it carries out to preserve the conservation of species, both in situ in the place where it lives, and ex situ.
Within the concern to promote and raise awareness about the conservation problems of rhinos, we also join the celebration of World Rhinoceros Day next weekend, which is commemorated on September 22nd. Thus, during Saturday and Sunday different talks will be held among visitors about the serious situation that rhinoceroses live in their places of origin and the threat it supposes to their survival.
The Indian Rhino Vision 2020 project includes the Forestry Department of Assam, the Territorial Council of Bodoland, the World-Wide Fund for Nature (WWF) and the fishing and wildlife service. The plan has allowed the transfer of rhinoceroses from overcrowded areas, such as the Kaziranga National Park and the Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary, to other protected areas to raise them in a more stable and safe way.
In a first phase, work was done to improve the protection and monitoring of existing populations. Since then, another 11 babies have been born, a sign that shows the correct adaptation of these animals to their new sanctuaries. Currently, the rhinoceros population continues to thrive.
The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is considered a vulnerable species by the IUCN. The loss of their habitat and poaching had reduced their population to less than 200 in northern India and Nepal. Thanks to the increase in protection by the authorities of both countries, the population has recovered to overcome more than 3,345 individuals currently, a figure that the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 project intends to increase.
Rhinoceros conservation in Terra Natura
In addition of the in-situ conservation projects in which we collaborate, it has also developed a programme of conservation of the ex situ Indian rhinoceros in its facilities to try to achieve the reproduction of this species with a view to its future reintroduction in affected areas. Thanks to the conditions of environmental enrichment achieved in the facilities of this animal and the care of the technical team of the park, the first birth of an Indian rhinoceros was achieved in Spain in 2015.
At present, we have three Indian rhinoceroses, the baby rhino born in the park, called Susto, was transferred to another European zoo to promote the conservation of the species through its union with other genetically compatible specimens.