DNA database coming up for Indian rhino
14, May 2019
Prelims level : Indian rhino status in IUCN RedList.
Mains level : What is Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020)? Write about threats for Indian species. | Why there is a need for translocation of Indian rhino species to new rhino habitat? Evaluate. | Write about Indian Rhino and its role on ecosystem and biodiversity.
- The Union Environment Ministry has embarked on a project to create DNA profiles of all rhinos in the country.
- By 2021, the project’s deadline, the Indian rhino could be the first wild animal species in India to have all its members DNA-sequenced.
BACKGROUND:
- The project’s proponents, including the World Wide Fund for Nature-India (WWF-India) and the Centre-funded Wildlife Institute of India (WII).
- There are about 2,600 rhinos in India, with more than 90% of the population concentrated in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park.
- Outside Kaziranga, there are about 200 rhinos in West Bengal, 40 in Uttar Pradesh and 1 in Bihar.
- There are three species of rhinos, of which only one, the Indian rhino is found in the country.
- The rhinos were once abundant and well-distributed in the country. However poaching reduced its numbers to about 200 wild animals by the end of the 20th century.
