Consider the following statements regarding the rhinoceros population and conservation in the Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) : 1) According to the 4th rhino census, the total population of rhinos in the reserve has reached 53 . 2) The rhino reintroduction programme in Dudhwa was first initiated in 1984 with founder rhinos from Assam and Nepal . 3) Uttar Pradesh is one of only three states in India, along with Assam and West Bengal , to host a wild population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros . Which of the statements given above are correct?

The correct answer is 1, 2 and 3 In News The 4th rhino census conducted in Uttar Pradesh's Dudhwa Tiger Reserve (DTR) revealed that the rhino population has increased to 53 . Key Points Statement 1 is correct: The latest census, conducted between June 25 and 27, 2026, recorded a total of 53 rhinos in the reserve, which includes 17 adult males, 25 adult females, and 11 calves. Statement 2 is correct: The rhino reintroduction programme at DTR began in 1984 . It started with the translocation of seven founder rhinos sourced from Assam and Nepal to the South Sonaripur range. Statement 3 is correct: Uttar Pradesh , Assam , and West Bengal are specifically mentioned as the only three states in India that support a wild population of the greater one-horned rhinoceros . Additional Information The census was carried out by 20 teams comprising forest personnel and WWF-India staff using 20 camp elephants . The reserve has two Rhino Rehabilitation enclosures : RR1 (27 sq km) and RR2 (13.4 sq km). Currently, 11 rhinos are free-ranging in the wild outside these enclosures. Despite a net growth, three deaths were recorded recently due to territorial conflicts and predation, including attacks by a dominant male named Napoleon and predation by tigers. Important Points The population has grown more than seven-fold since the program's inception in 1984 . The release of rhinos into the wild from enclosures is aimed at improving genetic diversity and reducing inbreeding .