One Horned Rhino Population increase to 392 in West Bengal

The great one-horn rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) population in West Bengal has increased from 347 in 2022 to 392 in 2025. The latest figure of the rhino population in the state was revealed by the State Forest Department after the conclusion of the two-day rhino census in March 2025. the state. In 2013 the total rhino population in the state was 229.

The increase in the rhino population in the state is seen as a success of the conservation effort of the state forest department in eliminating poaching and habitat management of rhinos.

No case of poaching has been reported in the state since 2021 while in 2014-15 six cases of poaching were recorded. 

Status of Rhinos in West Bengal 

In West Bengal, one-horned rhinos are found at the Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar and in the Gorumara National Park in Jalpaiguri.

According to the latest census figure,331 rhinos were counted in the Jaldapara National Park while 61 rhinos were found in the Gorumara National Park.

There were 292 rhinos in Jaldapara and 55 in Gorumara in 2022.

Within India, the maximum number of rhinos are found in Assam’s  Kaziranga National Park with over 2600 rhinos.

The Jaldapara National Park has the second-highest number of rhinos with 331.

Rhinos Population in India 

The one-horned rhino is found in three states - Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh. 

Three species of rhinos are found in Asia- Indian, Sumatran, and Javan. The Indian and Javan rhino have one horn while the Sumatran rhino has two horns.

Apart from Asia rhinos are found in Africa which also has two horns.

Within India, Assam has the largest population of rhinos followed by West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh.

Assam 

• In Assam, rhinos are found in the Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, Orang National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, and Manas National Park.
• Assam is home to over 3000 rhinos population which is around 80 % of the global population of the greater one-horned population.
• Around 80% of India’s rhino population is concentrated in Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve.
• The Orang National Park of Assam hosts around 4 % of the country’s rhino population while Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has 3 % and  Manas National Park 1 %.

West Bengal

 West Bengal has the second largest population of rhinos in India after Assam.

• The Jaldapara National Park of West Bengal has around 9 % of the Indian rhino population.
• Gorumara National Park has around 2 % of the country’s rhino population.

Uttar Pradesh 

• Great one-horned rhinos are found in the Dudhwa National Park of Uttar Pradesh.
• It is estimated to hold 1 % of the country’s total rhino population.

Legal protection to Rhinos 

• The Indian rhinos were classified as an endangered species by the IUCN (International Union for Conservation of Nature) in 1996.
• In 2008 the IUCN changed the status to ‘vulnerable’ due to the increasing population of rhinos in India.
• The Wildlife (Protection) Act 1972 has placed the rhinos under Schedule I (Part-1) which provides complete protection to the species in India.