It is drawing to a close with the translocation of two one-horned rhinos to Manas National Park, Assam.
Under the IRV 2020 program, at least 22 rhinos have been translocated from Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (12) and Kaziranga National Park (10) to Manas National Park within Assam since 2008.
Launched in 2008, IRV was a joint programme of the Assam Forest Department, Worldwide Fund for Nature India (WWF-India), Bodoland Territorial Council, and the International Rhino Foundation.
It was designed by Rhino Task Force 2005 with a target to achieve rhino population to 3,000 by establishing populations in seven protected areas in Assam by 2020.
The Seven protected areas are Pabitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, Manas National Park, Laokhowa wildlife sanctuary, Burachapori wildlife sanctuary and Dibru Saikhowa wildlife sanctuary.
Rhinos are now found in four Protected Areas in Assam: Pabitora Wildlife Reserve, Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Kaziranga National Park, and Manas National Park.
Only the Great One-Horned Rhino is found in India.
Also known as Indian rhino, it is the largest of the rhino species.