The rhino population in two marshy riverine sanctuaries in West Bengal has jumped to 121 from just 14 in 1985, a state wildlife official said after a census was completed last week.

Officials estimate the number of rhinos has risen to 1,700 in Assam, which is home to the country's largest rhino habitat, up from 1,550 in a census done in 1999.

"The rise in the numbers is impressively high," said Kalyan Das, chief officer of the Jaldapara sanctuary in West Bengal.

Officials said awareness campaigns among villagers and involving them in running patrols in rhino reserves had helped to wean them away from poachers, who use them as guides to hunt down the animals.

One kilo of rhino horn, which many believe to have aphrodisiac power, can fetch up to Rs 100,000 in the international market, a forest official said.

A full-grown rhino's horn can weigh up to two kg.

But India is under fire from the media and conservation groups for failing to protect its tigers.

A century ago, there were an estimated 40,000 tigers in the country. Now, government figures say about 3,700 survive while some experts say the number may be barely 2,000 because of heavy poaching.