One-Horned Rhinoceros

Highly endangered species, great one horned rhinoceros is heavily built next to Indian elephant is the forth largest mammal in the world. The Indian rhinoceros has a single black horn and easily distinguish by the armor plates on its legs. Its also the largest of all Asian rhinos with a length of 10 feet and and a height of 5.5 feet. Incredibly heavy the beast is weigh about 2200 kg. Male rhinos are more larger than their female counterpart. Also males are easily marked by heavy neck fold and semi prehensile upper lips.

Generally one horned rhinos love to live alone though during mating temporary associations of several individual form a wallows. They preferably live in alluvial plain grasslands where grasses grow more than 8 meters. They are also found in riverine forests and adjacent swamps. In India they are also found in modified woodlands, cultivated areas and pastures.

Great Indian rhinos are herbivore and love to chew grass. Also their diet consists of reeds, twigs, fruits and crops. There is a unique and funny feature of rhinos that make them “ landscape architecture” of their habitat. They need 2-3 days to digest the food so they disperse the undigested seed by droppings to a significant distance. Their mating is also very different from other mammals. There is a courtship fight between male and female with much noise and fury. During mating they display curling of lips, snorts and grunts and finally they mate. Rhinos are heavy mammal but that doesn’t affect on their agility. They are not very calm animal and charge at a speed of 4 to 8 km per hour.

Size And Physical Characteristics

A Ludicrously odd looking animal with thick plates on their thick skin with skinny and and short legs. They are weak in eying things but very good sense of smell and hearing. Indian one horned rhinos are specially known for their horn that is made up of keratin, a type of protein that make our nails and horn of other mammals. Male are larger than females, weigh more than 2 tons and standing five and half to six feet tall.

One-Horned Rhinos In India

Kaziranga National Park - Kaziranga national park is famous all over world because of one horned rhinos. It is located in Assam covering an area of about 430 sq kms. The Kaziranga national park is well maintained with tall grassland and swamps for the rhinos. Kaziranga national park is the biggest success of rhinoceros conservation. Rhinos were brutally poached for their horn. It is said that horns have aphrodisiac property. Once reached to an alarming point due to hunting Kaziranga came under the wildlife conservation in 1926 and in 1940, Kaziranga was declared a sanctuary.

Manas National Park - Though this national park is more famous for rare golden langur but Manas national park, which is located in Assam also a secured place for Indian rhinoceros. Manas is also a tiger reserve where tigers are found more than many renowned sanctuaries. It is the perfect place for the rhinos with tall thickets of elephant grass and patches of ever green forest help rhinos to survive in their natural habitat. Manas is very special biosphere for at least twenty species, which are listed in the IUCN Red Date Book. This include hispid hare, pigmy hog and red panda.

Facts About One-Horned Rhinoceros

Type: Mammal
Diet: Herbivore
Size: Height at shoulder, 4.5 to 6 feet (1.4 to 1.8 m)
Weight: 1,760 to 3,080 lbs (800 to 1400 kg)
Protection status: Endangered
Size relative to a 6ft (2m) man
Range and Habitat: Two primary protected areas hold the remaining wild populations; about 450 in Chitwan Park in Nepal and 1200 in Kaziranga Park in Assam, India. Formerly ranging through much of South East Asia, these animals are now confined to the tall grasslands and riverine forests of the Himalayan foothills.