**2.2 Translocation of the greater one-horned rhinoceros from Assam and Nepal to Uttar Pradesh**

The first rhino reintroduction program was implemented from 1984 to 1995, and the area where rhinos were to be released is called the Rhino Reintroduction Area. In 1984, five rhinos, that is, two males and three females, from Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary were translocated to Dudhwa National Park. Before being released into the main area of the Rhino Reintroduction Area (RRA), these animals were kept in specially constructed stockades so that they could receive healthcare and experience electric fencing. A female, out of these five, died of stress abortion before she could be released. On 20.05.1985, animals were released in an area of 27 sq. km in the south Sonaripur range of Dudhwa [14]. The large male was held back until the rest were settled and was released a few days later after being radio-collared. A second female

*An Assessment of the Population Density of Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros in Uttar Pradesh… DOI: http://dx.doi.org/10.5772/intechopen.109824*


**Table 1.**

*Released population of rhinos in Dudhwa National Park who started the population in 1984–1995.*

died on July 31, 1984, after being tranquilized to treat a wound. Having only one female rhino and two males left, it was necessary to translocate more rhinos, so the government of Nepal agreed to exchange four young adult female rhinos for sixteen domestic elephants. In April 1985, four rhinos were captured near Royal Chitwan National Park and brought to Dudhwa. In this way, these seven rhinoceros, two males and five females, made up the rhinoceros seed population (**Table 1**).

## **2.3 Establishing a second rhino population within Dudhwa National Park, that is, Phase II**

The Rhino Reintroduction Program has been executed by the National Park in two phases, RRA-I, that is, Phase I, and RRA-II, that is, Phase II. A second phase has been established to prevent rhino populations from inbreeding. Over the years, the rhino population in Dudhwa NP has grown steadily and is probably at risk of inbreeding, so to provide better conservation opportunities, it is necessary to move the rhinos to a potential protected area and also to bring in new individuals to make the population genetically healthier. As suggested by the Wildlife Institute of India (WII) [15] and following the management plan of Dudhwa Tiger Reserve, the second RRA of Dudhwa NP has a total area of about 14 sq. km. To create a genetically healthy rhino population, at least one male must be unrelated to Dudhwa's existing population. It was through the collaboration of the Uttar Pradesh Forest Department and WWF-India, with support from the Assam Forest Department and Wildlife Trust of India (WTI), that four rhinos were translocated, a significant milestone in the history of rhino conservation (**Figure 2**).
