From the wetlands of Assam’s Kaziranga National Park (KNP) emerges an ecological narrative regarding the evolution of the one-horned rhinoceros, influenced by climate change, vegetation shifts, invasive species, and herbivore activity. Factors such as rapid urbanization, industrialization, deforestation, and natural disasters contribute to global ecological degradation, particularly impacting biodiversity in Northeast India—a critical region within the Indo-Burma biodiversity hotspot known for its endangered species. Scientists from the Birbal Sahni Institute of Palaeosciences utilized pollen from sediment cores extracted from KNP’s Sohola swamp to uncover long-term palaeoecological records related to palaeoherbivory. Their research, published in the journal ‘Catena,’ reveals a stark contrast between Kaziranga’s current landscape and its past, indicating the regional extinction of megaherbivores, including the Indian rhinoceros, due to climatic changes and human activities. Northeastern India, remaining climatically stable, enabled the eastward migration and concentration of rhinoceroses in Kaziranga. The study indicates that the Indian rhinoceros was once widespread across the Indian subcontinent, but its habitat and distribution significantly diminished since the Holocene era. Over the last 3,300 years, climatic stability and lower human pressure in northeastern India allowed for the retention of rhinoceroses, while habitat loss, climate deterioration, and overhunting elsewhere prompted their migration. Ultimately, the study highlights how long-term vegetative and climatic changes have influenced wildlife survival and extinction, offering valuable ecological insights for improved conservation and management amidst ongoing climate change.
