World Rhino Day: Top places to spot the animal in India, the day's history and significance

India is home to several remarkable national parks and wildlife sanctuaries where you can catch a glimpse of these magnificent rhinos. One of the most famous is Kaziranga National Park, which is located in Assam. Kaziranga National Park is the largest habitat of the greater one-horned rhinoceros,  found only in India, Nepal and Bhutan. This park is a UNESCO World Heritage Site due to its dense rhino population.

Other prominent places to spot rhinos in India are Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, Manas National Park and Dibru Saikhowa National Park in Assam; and Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park in West Bengal. Dudhwa National Park Uttar Pradesh is also home to Asian rhinos.

These protected areas offer a unique opportunity to visitors to see these magnificent creatures in their natural habitat.

The crisis over the rhino population began in Africa in 1990 and had escalated to a nationwide hazard by 2010. With only 30,000 rhinos remaining on the planet at that time, conservationists worldwide raised concerns over their survival. World Wildlife Fund, South Africa, took the initiative to create World Rhino Day in order to raise awareness about the crisis and the importance of saving these animals.

In 2011, a woman named Lisa Jane Campbell of Chishakwe Ranch in Zimbabwe, in a mail to fellow rhino enthusiast Rhishja, expressed her desire to see at least five species of rhinos thriving in the world . They worked together to make World Rhino Day 2011 a success and since then, the day has gained popularity across the world. This marked the global expansion of World Rhino Day, which continues to be celebrated worldwide on September 22.

The rhino species are in danger of extinction due to rampant poaching, the impact of climate change and disturbances to their natural environments. World Rhino Day serves as a yearly reminder of the critical importance of spreading awareness about the urgent need to protect and conserve rhino species worldwide.

Currently, three species of rhinos — black, Javan and Sumatran — are classified as critically endangered, highlighting the pressing need for conservation efforts to ensure their survival.