India, Oct. 17 -- As the Indian Forest Service marks the 60th year of its inception, the spectacular revival of the rhinoceros in Indian jungles is one of the greatest conservation success stories in modern history.

Centuries ago, the animal roamed freely across the Indo-Gangetic Plain. Relentless hunting and rapid agricultural expansion left just 20 animals surviving in Assam's Kaziranga by the early 20th century. By the mid-2000s, India's herd stabilised at 2,500. The Indian Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020) was launched in 2005 to push up the population to 3,000 across seven protected areas in Assam. Today, the count exceeds 3,200, with Kaziranga alone housing 2,600.

This resurgence has occurred alongside a broader environmental milestone:...