After decades of absence due to poaching and unrest, over 40 greater one-horned rhinos now roam Manas National Park, with successful breeding recorded. Yet, the grasslands that sustain them have nearly halved in size over the past three decades.
- Over 40 rhinos now live and breed in Manas National Park.
- Grassland cover in Manas dropped from 53.61% to 30.24% since 1990.
- Invasive plants and habitat changes threaten the ongoing recovery.
What happened
The greater one-horned rhinoceros disappeared from Manas National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam during the late 1980s and 1990s, largely due to civil unrest and heavy poaching. By the mid-2000s, no rhinos were left in the park, which had once held over 80 animals.
Conservation efforts under the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 program, led by the Assam Forest Department in partnership with WWF-India and the International Rhino Foundation, began reintroducing rhinos from other reserves starting in 2012. Since then, the population has grown steadily, with 35 calves born between 2012 and 2021, including second-generation rhinos born in Manas itself.
Why it feels good
The successful breeding of reintroduced rhinos is a powerful sign that this iconic species can once again thrive in Manas’ ecosystem. This recovery represents a major conservation success that brings hope for the long-term revival of the region’s biodiversity.
Seeing wild rhinos multiply after being extirpated for decades is inspiring. It also reflects the dedication of conservationists who overcame formidable challenges to restore a key population outside Kaziranga National Park, spreading the species’ presence across Assam.
What to enjoy or watch next
While the rhino comeback story is uplifting, the shrinking grasslands they depend on are cause for concern. Grassland cover has declined from over half the park’s area in 1990 to just 30% in 2019, affected by invasive plants like Chromolaena odorata, altered natural cycles, and human pressures.
Protecting and restoring these open habitats will be essential for the future. Observers and nature lovers can look forward to continued monitoring of this evolving habitat, supporting efforts to balance rhino conservation with managing invasive species and land-use changes in Manas.