Assam Claims Zero Rhino Poaching Success

Sarma contrasted current statistics with the tenure of the previous Congress government, during which he claimed 40 to 45 rhinos were lost annually. He characterized that era as a period of institutional failure that damaged the state's reputation. Under the current BJP-led administration, he insists that rigorous protection measures have effectively insulated the population from illegal hunting.

On the national stage, Prime Minister Narendra Modi reinforced this narrative by launching 'Project Rhino.' This initiative provides financial and technical backing to range states, focusing on habitat management and genetic improvement. Modi noted that Assam currently shelters nearly 80% of the world’s one-horned rhinoceros population. Beyond Assam, the federal government highlighted successful reintroduction efforts in Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa National Park, as well as stabilized populations across Bihar and West Bengal, signaling a broader shift in Indian wildlife management.