Great One-Horned Rhinocerous (Rhinocerous unicornis)

[Rishi]

Valmiki Tiger Reserve may soon host rewilded rhinos.

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Long after they disappeared from most of the range along the terai grasslands in the floodplains of the Indus & Ganga, one-horned rhinos were occasionally spotted in forests of Bihar’s Champaran (now Valmiki) and adjoining Gorakhpur in UP till the 1960s, thanks to dispersal from the contiguous forests of Nepal.
In the late 1970s, studies by IUCN’s Rhino Specialist Group and Indian experts identified UP’s Dudhwa and Valmiki among the few potential sites for rebuilding rhino populations. This led to restocking of Dudhwa with rhinos airlifted from Assam in 1984, it now hosts almost 40 rhinos & now UP is preparing Pilibhit Tiger Reserve for rhinos.

The great one-horned rhinocerous are present in hundreds just beyond the border, into Nepal's Chitwan National Park. Unfortunately, Valmiki has always received only temporary stragglers. Every years a few rhinos get washed away by the annual monsoon floods, but https://indianexpress.com/article/india/displaced-rhinos-back-in-nepal-bihar-reserve-loses-rare-chance-flood-4837631/.
After being conferred the "Earth Guardian" award in recognition of its officials' efforts at revival of habitat and species in the reserve area, 900 sq.km Valmiki has been trying to establish itself as a safe ground for rhinos.

*This image is copyright of its original author

Authorities are mulling to rewild surpus rhinos from Bihar's Patna zoo to Valmiki Tiger Reserve, after successful reintroduction of captive-bred ghariyals in Gandak River at the reserve in 2014. Patna zoo has the highest number of rhinos in the country. At present, there are 14 rhinos — six males and eight females — at the zoo. Reply