World Rhino Day 2026: India’s Latest Rhino Population, State-Wise Data World Rhino Day is observed every year on September 22 to raise awareness about the conservation of the world’s five rhino species.
In 2026, the day comes as India continues to record important conservation gains for the greater one-horned rhinoceros, also known as the Indian rhino.
India is one of the key strongholds of the greater one-horned rhinoceros. The latest International Rhino Foundation data puts the species’ population in India at 3,323, based on figures available as of 2024, out of a global greater one-horned rhino population of 4,075.
However, newer state-level counts have since been reported. Assam’s latest survey puts its rhino population at 3,260, while West Bengal’s 2025 census recorded 392 and Uttar Pradesh’s 2026 Dudhwa census recorded 53. These figures come from different census exercises and dates, so they should not simply be added together as though they were conducted simultaneously.
India’s Rhino Population: Latest Numbers
The greater one-horned rhinoceros is mainly found in Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh in India. Its habitat is concentrated around the floodplains and grasslands of the Brahmaputra and Terai regions.
Here is the latest state-wise data available from recent census and survey reports:
| State | Latest reported rhino population | Census/survey reference |
| Assam | 3,260 | Latest state survey reported in September 2026 |
| West Bengal | 392 | Rhino census conducted in March 2025 |
| Uttar Pradesh | 53 | Dudhwa census conducted in June 2026 |
Assam Has India’s Largest Rhino Population
Assam remains the principal stronghold of the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
According to a September 2026 report based on the latest state survey, Assam has 3,260 one-horned rhinos. Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma said the figure represents around 80% of the global population of the species.
The state’s rhino population is spread across several protected areas, with Kaziranga National Park accounting for the largest concentration.
Earlier data cited by conservation organisations put Kaziranga’s population at around 2,600 rhinos. A 2022 census recorded 2,613 rhinos in the park.
Other important rhino habitats in Assam include Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park and Manas National Park.
Kaziranga Remains The Biggest Rhino Stronghold
Kaziranga National Park is central to India’s greater one-horned rhino conservation programme.
The park has become one of the most prominent examples of long-term rhino conservation in India, with protection, habitat management and anti-poaching measures contributing to population recovery.
The latest International Rhino Foundation report also noted that Assam recorded zero known rhino poaching incidents in 2025. The state had previously achieved the same milestone in 2022.
At the same time, conservationists continue to point to habitat degradation, invasive vegetation and pressure on grasslands as longer-term challenges for rhino populations.
West Bengal Rhino Population: 392
West Bengal is another important Indian state for the greater one-horned rhinoceros.
The state’s March 2025 rhino census recorded a population of 392, up from 229 in the previous census. The exercise covered Jaldapara National Park, Gorumara National Park, Chapramari Wildlife Sanctuary and parts of the Jalpaiguri Reserve Forests.
The census estimated:
- Jaldapara National Park: 331 rhinos
- Gorumara National Park: 61 rhinos
- Total West Bengal estimate: 392 rhinos
Jaldapara is considered the second-largest habitat for the greater one-horned rhinoceros after Kaziranga.
Uttar Pradesh Rhino Population Rises To 53
Uttar Pradesh has a smaller but significant rhino population centred on Dudhwa National Park and the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve.
The latest Dudhwa rhino census conducted in June 2026 recorded 53 rhinos, comprising 17 males, 25 females and 11 sub-adults and calves.
The previous census had recorded 51 rhinos. Officials said the latest count followed the deaths of three animals before the new census, meaning the population had started at 48 before five additional rhinos were recorded.
Dudhwa’s rhino population has historical significance because the animals were reintroduced to the region after having disappeared from it for more than a century. The reintroduction programme began in 1984 with seven rhinos brought from Assam and Nepal.
How Many Greater One-Horned Rhinos Are There In The World?
The International Rhino Foundation’s 2025 State of the Rhino report estimated 4,075 greater one-horned rhinos in Asia as of March 2025.
Of these:
- India: 3,323
- Nepal: 752
The report noted that India’s population had risen from 2,150 in 2007 to 3,323 by 2024.
The figures demonstrate the long-term recovery of the species, although conservation challenges remain.
Why Is World Rhino Day Observed?
World Rhino Day is observed on September 22 every year. It highlights all five living rhino species and raises awareness about the threats they face, including poaching, illegal wildlife trade and habitat loss. The International Rhino Foundation says the global observance has been held on September 22 since 2011.
The five rhino species are:
- Greater one-horned rhinoceros
- White rhinoceros
- Black rhinoceros
- Javan rhinoceros
- Sumatran rhinoceros
India’s primary rhino conservation focus is the greater one-horned rhinoceros, whose scientific name is Rhinoceros unicornis. WWF describes the species as vulnerable and estimates its current population at around 4,000.
From Near Extinction To Conservation Recovery
The greater one-horned rhino once ranged across much of the northern Indian subcontinent. Hunting and habitat pressures caused its population to decline dramatically.
WWF notes that by the beginning of the 20th century, only around 200 wild greater one-horned rhinos remained. Conservation and protection measures in India and Nepal have since helped the species recover to around 4,000 animals.
India’s experience has therefore become an important part of the species’ conservation story, particularly in Assam.
What Threatens India’s Rhinos Today?
Despite the increase in population, conservation efforts continue to face challenges.
The International Rhino Foundation’s latest reporting highlights habitat degradation and invasive plants among the threats facing rhinos. As populations grow, maintaining and expanding suitable grassland habitat becomes increasingly important.
Poaching also remains a concern even though recent figures show significant progress. India, Nepal and Indonesia reported zero rhino poaching in 2025, according to reporting on the International Rhino Foundation’s 2026 State of the Rhino report.
