Question

Which of the following species of rhinoceros is said to be the most critical endangered species:-
A.Indian one- horned Rhino
B.Javan rhino
C.African black Rhino
D.Sumatran Rhino

Answer 1

Hint: WWF plays a significant role within the fight to safeguard rhinos. A successful rhino conservation requires a comprehensive approach that brings together the world’s leading experts to develop global strategies to avoid wasting and recover these species. This is done by establishing new populations through the process of moving rhinos from parks with significant populations to others that previously had rhinos but currently don't.

Complete answer:
In present times, three of the five species of rhino are listed as critically endangered by the World Conservation Union. Critically endangered animals face a very high risk of extinction. The Javan and Sumatran rhino are critically endangered and therefore the one-horned (or Indian) rhino is classed as vulnerable.
Sumatran rhino
Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
In-situ population: 80 individuals
IUCN Red List Classification: Critically Endangered
There are now only but 80 Sumatran rhinos left within the wild, and efforts are now being invested in captive breeding in an effort to spice up the population. Historically, poaching had depleted the population but their biggest threat today is habitat loss – including forest destruction for vegetable oil and paper pulp – and increasingly, small, fragmented populations failing to breed.

Javan rhino
Rhinoceros sondaicus
In-situ population: 74
IUCN Red List Classification: Critically Endangered
Threat to the Javan rhino is because of their small size. With an estimated 74 animals left in a very single population in Ujung Kulon park, the Javan rhino is extremely liable to natural disasters and disease. Numbers of Javan rhinos have increased during the previous few years, because of the expansion of the habitat available for them into neighbouring Gunung Honje park.

Black rhino
Diceros bicornis
In-situ population: 5,366 to 5,627
IUCN Red List Classification: Critically Endangered
Poaching on a very large-scale lead to the decline in the population of black rhino from 70,000 individuals in 1970 to only 2,410 in 1995 – that’s a dramatic decline of 96% over 20 years. By the efforts of conservation programmes, black rhino numbers have risen since then. Importantly, their geographic range has also increased, with successful reintroduction programmes repopulating areas that had previously seen native black rhinos.

Greater one-horned rhino:
Rhinoceros unicornis
In-situ population: 3,588
IUCN Red List Classification: Vulnerable
Greater one-horned rhinos have made a startling comeback from the brink of extinction. In the year 1900, less than 200 individuals were there, however, the current situation shows a better result of over 3,580 individuals, by the concerted conservation efforts in India as well as Nepal. Although poaching remains a high threat, particularly in Kaziranga park, a key area for the species, the requirement to expand their habitat to supply space for the growing population could be a key priority.

White rhino
Ceratotherium simum
In-situ population: 17,212 to 18,915
IUCN Red List Classification: Near Threatened
The overwhelming rhino conservation story is of Southern white rhino. The white rhino recovered from near extinction with numbers as low as 50 – 100 left within the wild within the early 1900’s, this sub-species of rhino has now increased to between 17,212 and 18,915, with the overwhelming majority living in a very single country, South Africa. The Northern white rhino has only two females left, after the last male, Sudan, died in March 2018.

Hence, the correct answer is option (B)

Note: The Indian rhinoceros helps in maintaining the health and balance of the ecosystem. They are an integral part of the food chain and engineer grasslands, wetlands they range upon. They are considered as mega herbivores grazing in grasslands and in turn opening them for other herbivore species. They actively use wetlands and water-bodies thus in a way helping the natural rejuvenation of our aquatic systems.