Description

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Context:

Assam Forest Department and WII have begun genetic analysis of 2,573 rhino horn samples stored before their 2021 destruction.

About RhoDIS India Programme:

Aspect	Details
Launched By	Ministry of Environment, Forests and Climate Change (MoEFCC), Govt. of India
Year of Launch	2016
Partner Institutions	Wildlife Institute of India (WII), Forest Departments of Assam, West Bengal, Uttar Pradesh, WWF India
Objective	To improve scientific crime investigations and provide technical support for rhino population management
Technology Used	Rhino DNA Index System (RhODIS)
Working Mechanism	DNA indexing system to generate unique genetic signatures for individual rhinos
Approved Protocol	Standardised RhoDIS India analysis protocol approved by MoEFCC
Significance	Aids wildlife crime investigation and strengthens legal processes

What is a Rhino's horn?

Component	Rhino Horn Details
Main Composition	Keratin
Chemical Composition	Sulphur-containing amino acids (e.g., cysteine), tyrosine, histidine, lysine, arginine, calcium carbonate, calcium phosphate
Structural Similarity	Similar to horses’ hooves, turtle beaks, and cockatoo bills
Rhino Species Horn Types	- One horn: Greater one-horned rhino, Javan rhino - Two horns: Other three rhino species

About Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros:

Aspect	Details
Scientific Name	Rhinoceros unicornis
Rhino Species Rank	Largest of the five rhino species
Habitat	Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannas, and riverine floodplains
Distribution	Northeastern India and Nepal
Major Strongholds	Kaziranga (Assam), Jaldapara (West Bengal), Chitwan (Nepal)
IUCN Red List Status	Vulnerable
Distinctive Features	- Single black horn (8–25 inches) - Thick, folded, armour-like skin
Diet	Herbivorous: grasses, aquatic plants, fruits, shrubs
Social Behavior	Semi-solitary; social during wallowing or grazing
Ecological Role	Keystone grazer that shapes wetland ecosystems

ALSO READ- https://www.iasgyan.in/daily-current-affairs/one-horned-rhino-26#:~:text=The%20Indian%20rhinoceros%20also%20called,IUCN%20Red%20list%20in%202008.

Source: The Hindu

PRACTICE QUESTION

Q. With reference to the RhoDIS India Programme, consider the following statements:

It uses DNA indexing to create unique genetic profiles of rhinos.
It was developed by the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.
It helps in strengthening wildlife crime investigations.

Which of the statements given above is/are correct?

(a) 1 only

(b) 1 and 3 only

(d) 1, 2 and 3

Answer: B

Explanation:

The RhoDIS (Rhino DNA Index System) creates unique DNA profiles of individual rhinos. These genetic signatures help in identifying each rhino distinctly, crucial for forensic investigations.

The RhoDIS India Programme was launched by the Ministry of Environment, Forest and Climate Change (MoEFCC), not the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare.

One of the main objectives of the RhoDIS programme is to provide scientific support for investigating wildlife crimes, especially illegal rhino horn trade, by matching DNA evidence.