In Brief
- Pietersen responded to Chief Minister Sarma's World Rhino Day address on social media platform X, stating that Assam demonstrates "how to save a species" to the world.
- Official data published in the 2026 'State of the Rhino' report confirms Assam houses approximately 3,260 of the world's estimated 4,075 greater one-horned rhinoceroses, representing nearly 80 percent of the global population.
- State wildlife officials recorded zero incidents of rhino poaching across Assam during the 2025 calendar year.
Former England cricket captain and wildlife conservation advocate Kevin Pietersen commended Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma and the state's population on September 23, 2026, following the government's official World Rhino Day briefing. Replying to Chief Minister Sarma's social media post detailing habitat expansion and anti-poaching measures, Pietersen stated that the state provides a global model for species preservation. Pietersen previously visited Kaziranga National Park in March 2020 to film a documentary on Indian rhinoceros conservation.
Official data released alongside the 2026 'State of the Rhino' report indicates that Assam currently holds approximately 3,260 greater one-horned rhinoceroses, accounting for nearly 80 percent of the global population of 4,075. The Assam state government reported zero rhino poaching incidents in 2025, following anti-poaching operational changes and habitat protection enforcement across protected forest areas, including Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park.
