The Government of India has announced that it will soon launch a dedicated Rhino Conservation Project to strengthen the protection and long-term conservation of the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros in the country’s rhino range states.

Union Environment, Forest and Climate Change Minister Bhupender Yadav made the announcement after chairing the 91st meeting of the Standing Committee of the National Board for Wildlife (SC-NBWL) in Coimbatore. The initiative will be implemented with financial support from the National Compensatory Afforestation Fund Management and Planning Authority (CAMPA).

The project will focus on improving habitat management, enhancing protection measures, and supporting rhino conservation efforts in states where the species is found. Discussions during the meeting also highlighted the need to conserve grassland ecosystems in the Brahmaputra and Duar–Terai landscapes, which are critical habitats for the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros.

In another significant decision, the Centre announced that the Pygmy Hog, one of the world’s rarest mammals and India’s only endemic wild pig species, will be included under the Centrally Sponsored Scheme for Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats (CSS-IDWH). This will provide the species with dedicated conservation support.

The announcement marks a major step in India’s wildlife conservation efforts, reinforcing the country’s commitment to safeguarding endangered species and restoring vital grassland ecosystems through targeted conservation programmes.

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