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India: International Rhino Foundation (IRF)

Conservation at a Glance

• Greater one-horned rhinos were almost hunted to extinction by the early 1900’s – only about 200 remained. Thanks to protection in India and Nepal, about 2,400 greater one-horned rhinos can now be found in national parks and wildlife sanctuaries.
• Greater one-horned rhinos are still threatened by poaching and habitat destruction.
• The Philadelphia Zoo funds rhino conservation through the International Rhino Foundation (IRF) and raises money during its annual Bowling for Rhinos event, which is sponsored and organized by the Zoo’s AAZK (American Association of Zookeepers) Chapter.
• The IRF project will double the number of rhino reserves in India from three to six, move twenty rhinos per year (100 rhinos total) from over-crowded reserves to new areas, and provide protection to all rhinos.
• Local people will be involved in rhino protection by recruiting park guards from local communities.
• IRF supports rhino exchange between U.S. and Indian zoos that will add new bloodlines to the North American rhino population and will help Indian zoos better manage their rhinos.