About IRV 2020

• Aim : The Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV 2020) aims to attain a population of 3000 Wild rhino in Assam distributed over 7 of its Protected Areas by the year 2020.
• It was started in 2005, designed by the Rhino Task Force and has been running for the last 15 years with 8 phases.

Objectives

• Improving protection of rhinos in all the rhino areas.
• Translocating rhinos from two source populations (Kaziranga and Pabitora) into 3 or 4 target Protected Areas (Manas, Laokhowa-Buracharpori-Kochmora, Dibrusaikhowa, and possibly Orang).
• The Indian Rhino Vision 2020 was implemented by the Department of Environment and Forests of the Government of Assam along with the World Wide Fund for Nature (WWF).

Manas National Park

• It is located at the base of foothills of the Bhutan-Himalayas in the state of Assam.
• It is run by Manas river, Sankosh river and Dhansiri river. 
• Manas is the only landscape in the world where pristine Terai Grasslands are seen merging with the Bhabar grasslands interspersed with diverse habitats ascending to Semi-Evergreen forests and then to Bhutan Himalayas.
• It is a UNESCO World Heritage Site and a Tiger Reserve.
• The last population of the Pygmy Hog (smallest pig species) survive in the wilds of Manas and nowhere else in the world.

Why in the news?

• The IRV 2020 came to end with the release of two rhinos — an adult male and a female — in Assam’s Manas National Park transported from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary about 185 km east.
• The 8th round was adjourned last year due to COVID 19, but this year it was materialised.
• Earlier translocation of rhinos to Manas National Park have faulted due to poaching of these rhinos. This time a stringent watch has been kept to track these rhinos.

References:

1. https://wwfin.awsassets.panda.org/downloads/indian_rhino_vision_2020.pdf
2. https://epaper.thehindu.com/Home/ShareArticle?OrgId=G4M8FS1RH.1&imageview=0
3. https://nenow.in/opinion/the-good-the-bad-and-the-ugly-of-the-indian-rhino-vision-2020.html