One Horned Rhino >> Overview

Rhinoceros unicornis, commonly known as the Greater one horned rhinoceros has been one of the two greatest success stories in rhino conservation (the other one being the Southern White Rhino in south Africa) with strict protection from Indian and Nepalese wildlife authorities . Indian rhino numbers were recovered from under 200 earlier in the 20th Century to around 2500.

The greater one horned rhino used to be found around Indus valley, Gangetic flood plains & Brahmaputra river along with the Indian sub-continent between Indo Myanmar border in the east and Sindu River basin, Pakistan in the west. But now, they are found in the protected areas like - Kaziranga, Manas, Dudhwa, Kartarnighat, Orang, Pabitora, Jaldapora & Garomara National Parks in India and Chitwan, Bardiya National Park & Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve in Nepal. Along with these protected areas 136 captivity centers are also in use.

The rhinoceros prefer to inhabit the alluvial floodplain vegetation of sub-tropical climate where water and green grasses are available all year round. They live on a diet of floodplain grasses, trees saplings, shrubs, aquatic plants, herbs and fruits. Annual monsoon floods altered the spatial distribution of these successional grasslands but maintained prime grazing habitat and high rhinoceros densities. The study has revealed that a rhinoceros eats the fruits and seeds of at least 30 species of plants.

The Greater One Horned Rhinoceros is solitary though several may occupy the same patch of forest. In Nepal, during the monsoon, they frequently enter into farmlands. They have particular place for dropping its excreta; so mounds accumulate in places. While approaching the de spots a rhinoceros walks backwards and falls an easy victim to poachers. Breeding takes place all the time of the year and gestation period is about 16 months. The young at birth are about 105 cm in length and 60 kg in weight. The rhinoceros has among the lowest reproductive rates known for mammals. Inter-calving interval is about 4 years and females first give birth as early as about 6.5 years. Females nurse babies to the age of 2 years but by the age of 2 months the calves being supplementing milk intake with grass shoots, and by 10 months they graze and browse freely. The rhino cows guard the young ones intimately; calves become separated from their mothers when cows are chased by breeding bulls and occasionally during long grazing bouts.

Once abundant, the greater one horned rhinoceros are now battling for their survival due to heavy poaching and destruction of suitable habitats. With the increase in the use of modern firearms, the farfetched value attached to rhinoceros horn, and the superstitious beliefs put on the magical power of the blood, urine and other parts have exerted tremendous pressure on the survival of this species. Rhinoceros have been successfully translocated to re-establish population in areas where the species had been exterminated in Nepal. However, poaching has remained high and the success is precarious without continued and increased support for conservation efforts in India and Nepal . It has been listed as one of the most endangered species of mega herbivores in the world. It is a cornerstone species and acts the role of flagship species in ecosystem. It has also been included in appendix 1 of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered species of wild fauna and flora (CITES) and banned all the international trade of rhino and their products. This species is large, heavy, solitary and nocturnal, fond of wallowing and living on clay.

In Nepal, the huge reduction in rhino population is primarily ascribed to the disappearance of most of the alluvial plain grasslands and massive poaching for its commercially valued horns. The rhinoceros were confined to Chitwan National Park (CNP) till 1980s. The government's effort for conserving rhinos through the establishment of CNP, implementation of buffer zone program and translocation of rhinos to other protected areas has remarkably improved the prospect of rhinos in Nepal. The population of rhino in CNP has increased significantly and they are protected from natural or any other disasters by creating a second viable population in Bardiya National Park (BNP) and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR).

Rapid growth of human population has attributed to the gradual elimination of many large mammals from their historical range, the chief reason being the loss of their prime habitat. In last few decades, Nepal witnessed a colossal loss on wildlife richness particularly large mammals due to habitat deterioration. The conversion of forestland into other land use has constricted and fragmented wildlife habitat eventually threatening the life support system of many species. By now in Nepal, three Terai protected areas namely Chitwan National Park (CNP), Bardiya National Park (BNP) and Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (SWR) contain rhinoceros. Furthermore, the small patches of alluvial plains in those areas face a danger that could change the course of vegetation succession to a climax condition unsuitable for large mammals like rhino. Therefore, Terai protected areas can provide shelter to rhinoceros in the long-term if such areas are left undisturbed from increasing human interference and unplanned development programs.

According to a count in 2000, altogether 612 rhinos were surviving in three protected areas of Nepal. Among 544 individuals found in CNP, 332 adult, 87 sub-adult and 117 calves were identified and 8 found unknown. Likewise in BNP, a total of 67 were counted with 38 adults, 20 sub-adults and 9 calves. Number of rhino was found increased in CNP by 104 since 1994 with an annual growth rate of 3.88% in 2000. There was 1 male rhino in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve till early 2000, and also believed to have migrated from near by Dhudhwa National Park, India.

In rhino count of 2005, 446 rhinos were counted with 372 in CNP, 67 in BNP and 7 in SWR. Among 372 rhinos in CNP, 262 were adults, 42 sub-adults and 68 calves. Among 67 rhinos in Bardiya; 38 were adults, 20 sub-adults and 9 calves. Among 7 rhinos in SWR; 4 are adults, 1 sub-adult and 2 calves. According to the report of Asian Rhino Specialist Group on 1997, potential carrying capacity of rhino for Nepal is 800 individuals.