Star Indian batsman Rohit Sharma is all set to launch Rohit4Rhinos campaign in partnership with WWF India and Animal Planet to help build awareness for conserving the one-horned rhino.

Informing this on Wednesday, the WWF India members said Rohit pledges to do it in a bid to save the “vulnerable” species from extinction in a campaign to be launched on Animal Planet.

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The campaign will be launched to commemorate World Rhino Day on September 22.

Of the estimated 3,500 Indian rhinos left in the world, 82 per cent are found in India.

Once found abundantly across the Indus, Ganges and the Brahmaputra river basins, the Indian rhino is now found only in select pockets in Assam, West Bengal, Bihar and Uttar Pradesh.

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The State animal of Assam, the one-horned rhino faces several threats, including poaching, habitat loss and mass mortality from in-breeding and disease.

With five decades of work in the conservation space, WWF India has been working extensively on rhino conservation across key landscapes where the animal is found in the country.

Rohit Sharma joined WWF India as its Brand Ambassador for Rhino Conservation in 2018.

With leading wildlife channel, Animal Planet, now joining the cause, the team has set out to create awareness and sensitize India about the species and the need for its conservation.

Animal Planet will run a series of path-breaking programmes during ‘Rhino Week’ to sensitize people about these gentle giants.

A special page, www.rohit4rhinos.org is also being created to strengthen the campaign, through which viewers can pledge their support to the cause.

Talking about rhino conservation campaign, Rohit Sharma said, “It is our duty as co-inhabitants of this planet to try and protect other species that walk this planet, alongside us.”

“The future is in our hands and we should do whatever we can to ensure that our children are able to enjoy the rich bio-diversity this world has to offer.”

“I hope that this campaign will inspire others to come forward and join Animal Planet, WWF India and I in this endeavor to save the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros,” added Sharma.

“Discovery has long been committed to telling the stories and protecting the creatures that make our planet extraordinary,” said Megha Tata, managing director, South Asia, Discovery.

“We remain steadfast to leverage the brand strength of India’s leading wildlife channel Animal Planet to galvanize people power for the cause of endangered species,” added Tata.

“We are confident that Rohit’s strong support for the cause of Rhino conservation will help more people to join us for the cause of saving these gentle giants.”

“WWF India would like to thank Rohit Sharma for being the voice of conservation and for his continuous support in raising awareness about the greater one-horned rhinos,” said Dr. Dipankar Ghose, director, Species and Landscapes, WWF India.