The World Conservation Union’s Asian Rhino Specialist Group is meeting in Kaziranga National Park, India, to create a global action plan that will protect Asia’s rhino population.

Kaziranga National Park is at the centre of the batttle to save the rhino – a number of the park’s Indian rhinos have already been killed in 2010.

It is nearly 20 years since the last revision to the global action plan which covers the three species of rhino found in Asia – Indian, Javan and Sumatran.

Presently the Indian rhino’s future looks the brightest. The species is classified as vulnerable with approximately 2,800 animals left, the majority located in Kaziranga.

But the Javan and Sumatran rhinos are both categorized as critically endangered with current numbers around 50 and 300 respectively.

The African and Asian rhino specialist groups released a report in December informing CITIES that India currently does not have a national rhino conservation strategy.

The report highlighted an “urgent need” to develop such a plan in order to “complement the efforts of state authorities” and that the groups plan to help the government implement a national strategy this year.

According to the Asian Rhino Specialist Group, anti-poaching measures and reintroductions into former ranges are the two key components to the future of rhinos in Asia.

By Taylor Turner

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