Greater One-Horned Rhino Population Hits Global High of 4,075

Guwahati: The global population of greater one-horned rhinos climbed to 4,075. This marks a massive recovery from the early 1900s, when fewer than 100 animals survived in the wild. India claims the biggest slice of this success with 3,323 rhinos. Nepal holds another 752. Assam sits at the heart of this comeback.

Assam hosts nearly 80 percent of the global population. Kaziranga National Park serves as the primary stronghold with more than 2,600 rhinos, while Manas National Park shelters another 40 to 50. Officials credit this turnaround to habitat protection, scientific management, and field-level enforcement.

Anti-poaching efforts are paying off. Assam recorded zero known rhino poaching cases in 2025, which is only the second time this has happened since the 1970s. The rhino is vital to the local economy and biodiversity. Authorities now face the task of managing these habitats for the future. The state's recovery efforts are a major conservation win. As authorities noted, the "latest population milestone therefore represents both a conservation success and a renewed responsibility for Assam to protect one of the world's most iconic large mammals for future generations."