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Leonardo DiCaprio penned a note applauding Assam's accomplishment in ending the poaching of the endangered greater one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park...
Digital Desk: Off the big screen, Hollywood actor Leonardo DiCaprio is an ardent environmentalist who has dedicated his time and resources to save the earth. In his recent Instagram post, the actor praised the Assam government for its efforts in stopping rhino poaching in Kaziranga National Park.
The 'Titanic' star quoted a news report that said that no rhinos were poached last year in the world's largest reserve for the endangered great one-horned rhinoceros for the first time since 1977.
He shared a picture of a rhinoceros and wrote on Instagram, ''In 2021, the government of the Indian state of Assam set out to end the poaching of the Endangered Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park following the killing of around 190 animals for their horns between 2000 and 2021. In 2022, they met their goal and no rhinos were poached in the area for the first time since 1977.''
Notably, Kaziranga National Park is home to 2,200 Greater One-horned Rhinos, which accounts for around two-thirds of the world's population.
''This triumph in India also comes with more good news, as @wwf also reports that the world population of the rare rhino soared to around 3,700 from about 200 at the turn of the 20th century,'' the actor added.
Thousands of people reacted to Mr. DiCaprio's post, congratulating India on its achievement. One user commented, ' Awesome! Love to see these conservation efforts and success flowing from them!." '' It is soo good to read that at least some countries are doing something to help out the beautiful planet," another commented.
Kaziranga National Park in Assam, located in the floodplains of the Brahmaputra River, is the world's biggest habitat for one-horned rhinos and attracts visitors from all over the world. According to ANI news agency, the number of rhinos killed by poachers in 2015 and 2016 was 17 and 18, respectively, before dropping to two in 2020 and 2021 and zero in 2022.
When asked how this was achieved, GP Singh, Special Director General of Police (DGP) Law and Order, Assam, credited the efforts of both the state and Union Home Ministries, as well as the use of technology.
"We focused on mapping poaching incidents, collecting data, and tracing the past of poachers with a track record, including following their current activity. We also educated the stakeholders, particularly the villagers, forest villagers, and people living in buffer zones," Singh explained.
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