It is #WorldRhinoDay. There are 5 species of Rhino. Among them the Black, #Sumatran and #Javan rhinos (which was once found naturally in India also) are critically endangered. And Indian rhino is Vulnerable. Here one such standing in its habitat with all the glory.

Javan rhino got extinct from India in first decade of 20th century only. Once widespread in north east.

Rhinos lost huge ground in these years. Imagine they were once found across the north India upto modern pakistan. A Pasupati seal from Indus valley civilisation with rhino.

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest of the rhinoceros species. It once roamed across Asia as far as India, but its numbers have shrunk drastically due to deforestation and poaching. In 2019 last Sumatran #rhinoceros died in Malaysia. Species is now extinct from one more range.

Today India holds some 80% of #GreaterOneHornedRhino population of the world. Once dropped very low, now concerted efforts are paying dividends.

Still they are poached for their horns due to a myth that they are aphrodisiac & can cure many other ailments. With no proof.