World Rhino Day: Powerful beast still faces existential threat

Saturday was World Rhino Day. The rhinoceros, a powerful, majestic creature that is found in parts of southern Asia and Africa, is still threatened with extinction, impacting the stability of the five keystone species that play a crucial role in keeping our ecosystem and environment safe, according to a press release from luxury watchmaker Hublot, sponsor of Save Our Rhinos Africa and India, or SORAI, founded by former international cricketer Kevin Pietersen in 2018. According...

Over 130 wild animals die in floods in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park

More than 130 wild animals, including at least six rhinoceroses and over 110 deer, have perished in floods in the Kaziranga National Park in Assam in northeast India, according to news reports. The park, one of India’s more famous wildlife sanctuaries and home to the iconic one-horned rhinoceros, is facing its worst floods since 2017, when over 350 animals perished by drowning in the waters or being run over on roads passing through the park...

Despite some success, wildlife trafficking continues unabated, says U.N. report

While there has been some success in combating the illicit trade in some iconic wildlife species, and cross-border cooperation and recognition of wildlife crimes have improved, the magnitude of the problem remains large, with around 4,000 various plant and animal species being seized between 2015 and 2021, the U.N. Office on Drugs and Crime reported in Vienna, Austria, earlier this month. “The global scope and scale of wildlife crime remain substantial as the seizures indicate...

Kaziranga National Park records highest revenue in 50-year history

Kaziranga National Park in Assam, renowned for its one-horned rhinoceroses, achieved record revenue of ₹8.8 crore in financial year 2023-24, the highest amount in its 50-year history. The surge is attributed to a significant increase in tourist numbers, with 3,27,493 visitors, including 13,919 foreigners​, The Statesman newspaper reported. The UNESCO World Heritage Site’s diverse attractions, such as jungle and elephant safaris, have greatly enhanced the visitor experience. As reported by the website Northeast Today, the...