Guwahati, Assam: Raising awareness about the need to protect one of Assam’s most iconic wildlife species, the Department of Environmental Science at Gauhati University organised a special programme on the occasion of World Rhino Day 2026.
The programme was organised in collaboration with Prithvi Manthan, according to a post shared by Gauhati University on its official social media account. The initiative focused on rhino conservation and highlighted the importance of protecting Assam’s rich biodiversity.
Through the programme, participants were encouraged to recognise the ecological importance of rhinoceroses and the need for continued efforts to safeguard their habitats. The university also emphasised that conserving the state’s natural heritage requires collective responsibility.
World Rhino Day is observed every year on September 22 and focuses on awareness and conservation of all five surviving rhinoceros species. The International Rhino Foundation states that the day has been observed internationally since 2011. International Rhino Foundation
The greater one-horned rhinoceros has particular significance for Assam, which remains one of the world’s major strongholds for the species. Recent reporting based on conservation data indicates that Assam is home to nearly 80% of the world’s greater one-horned rhino population, with major populations found in protected areas including Kaziranga and Manas.
Gauhati University’s Department of Environmental Science is involved in research covering areas such as wetlands, biodiversity and wildlife-related environmental issues. The university’s official research portal lists work involving topics including wetland ecosystems, roadkill mortality and the western hoolock gibbon.
The World Rhino Day programme at Gauhati University therefore brought academic and public awareness efforts together around the broader issue of wildlife and biodiversity conservation in Assam.
