File Photo: Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar.
A total of 939 rhinoceroses have died in Assam between 2003 to 2012, Parliament was told on Wednesday. Union Environment Minister Prakash Javadekar, in a written reply, told the Lok Sabha that 13 rhinos had died in Uttar Pradesh, while 50 had died in West Bengal.
As per a census taken in 2012, there were 2,505 rhinoceroses in Assam, and 30 in Uttar Pradesh, While as per the census 2013, there are 229 Rhinos in West Bengal, Mr Javadekar said.
He said that the government has taken steps for the protection of wild animals including rhinoceroses.
While protected areas have been created all over the country, a specific component of recovery programmes for saving critically endangered species and habitats is provided in the Centrally-sponsored scheme of "Integrated Development of Wildlife Habitats."
He said that legal protection has been provided to wild animals against hunting and commercial exploitation under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 and financial and technical assistance is provided to state governments under Centrally- sponsored schemes.
Mr Javadekar said that the CBI has been empowered under the Wildlife Protection Act 1972 to apprehend and prosecute wildlife offenders.