Guwahati: Hollywood superstar Leonardo DiCaprio has applauded the Assam government’s efforts to stop rhino poaching in the state which it hopes to achieve in 2022 for the first time since Kaziranga National Park in 1977.
Assam is well-known for its one-horned rhinos, and many people travel there to see these animals.
2,200 of these rhinos—roughly two-thirds of the global population—live in the national park. The government reached its objective in 2022, and for the first time since 1977, there were no rhino poaching incidents in the region.
Taking to his Instagram handle, the actor wrote, “In 2021, the government of the Indian state of Assam set out to end the poaching of the Endangered Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park following the killing of around 190 animals for their horns between 2000 and 2021. In 2022, they met their goal and no rhinos were poached in the area for the first time since 1977.”
He continued, “Kaziranga National Park is home to 2,200 Greater One-horned Rhinos, which is about two-thirds of the world’s population. This triumph in India also comes with more good news, as @wwf also reports that the world population of the rare rhino soared to around 3,700 from about 200 at the turn of the 20th century.”
According to the most recent census results released by the national park authorities, the rhino population is growing.
The number of rhinos lost to poachers in 2021 was just 1, the lowest number in 21 years. As many as 27 rhinos were murdered by poachers in 2013 and 2014.