Golaghat: There has been a rise of 242 one-horned rhinos inside Kaziranga National Park (KNP) in upper Assam pushing their number to 2290.
The figure was arrived at after a two-day census in the park, a world heritage site, which ended yesterday, state Forest Minister Rockybul Hussain told newsmen here.
A total 2048 rhinos were found in the last census in 2009.
This was the 10th census conducted inside the park with the help of nearly 250 people and about 50 elephants despite inclement weather and heavy rain, he said.
Among the 2290 rhinos there are 508 mother rhinos and equal number of calves, which the park director Sanjib Baruah termed as a "good sign".
The high number of mother rhinos and calves proved the success of conservation of the highly endangered species in the park despite the threat of poachers, he said.
The first census was conducted inside the park wayback in 1964.
PTI
