Assam Now Home to 3,260 One-Horned Rhinos, Nearly 80% of Global Population

Assam is home to 3,260 one-horned rhinoceroses, accounting for nearly 80% of the species' global population, Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said on Tuesday. In a social media post, he said the latest survey put the state's rhino count at 3,260, against an estimated 4,075 one-horned rhinos worldwide.

The Chief Minister linked the rise to the state recording zero poaching incidents in 2025. "A fascinating fact: Nearly 80% of the world's one-horned rhinos are found in Assam. Our State is a vital safe haven for this once endangered species, and we remain committed to protecting them and expanding their habitat," he said.

Forest and Climate Change Minister Jayanta Malla Baruah described the figure as a matter of immense pride and an even greater responsibility. He attributed the outcome to decades of conservation work and the efforts of frontline forest personnel and local communities. "Under the leadership of the CM, the State government's commitment is to protect every rhino, strengthen their habitats and secure their future for generations to come," he said.

Speaking on September 12, Mr. Baruah said Kaziranga National Park alone shelters more than 2,600 rhinos, while Manas National Park has an estimated 40 to 50. He noted that 2025 was only the second time since the 1970s that Assam had gone a year without a known rhino poaching case.

The Minister said the recovery carries meaning beyond a conservation statistic, pointing out that fewer than 100 of the animals survived globally in the early 1900s. The rebound, he said, shows that determined protection, scientific management and community support can pull endangered wildlife back from the brink of extinction.