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Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) |
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| Scientific classification: |
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| Class |
: Mammals |
| Sub-Class |
: Eutheria |
Order
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: Perissodactyla |
| Family |
: Ceratomorpha |
| Genus |
: Rhinoceros |
| Species |
: unicornis |
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Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis |
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Status:Currently, around 2500 rhinos exist in the wild of which over 1500 are in Kaziranga National Park and over 500 in the Royal Chitwan National Park, Nepal. The rest are found in small insecure pockets in Orang Wildlife Sanctuary, Pabitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Assam, Jaldapara Wildlife Sanctuary and Gorumara National Park, West Bengal. The rhino population in Laokhowa Wildlife Sanctuary was totally wiped out during 1983 when 40 rhinos were killed by poachers during the Assam agitation. In addition to these wild rhino were reintroduced in Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh, India and in Royal Bardia National Park and Royal Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve, Nepal. |
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Distribution:Historically, the range of the great Indian one – horned rhinoceros once extended all along the flood plains of the river Indus, Ganges and Brahamputra. Babur – nama has recorded the presence of the rhino in Hindukush to the present Indo – Myanmar border to the east. Hunting of rhinos for sports during the regimes of the Maharajas, in the last 400 years also wiped out the rhinos from most of its range of distribution except in pockets left in north- east in the states of Assam and west Bengal along with Nepal where such vestiges of terai constitute the last strong hold for rhinos. |
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Habits:In wild the rhinoceros lives in large groups. It lives within the bound of its habitat, wandering over a vast area in search of food and safety. Occasionally, two rhinoceroses will fight over territory, and scars from their battles can be found on the skins. One cannot say whether the species has natural enemies or one of the animals in the area will attack the other or is frightened of any except the elephant. The rhino has particular places for dropping its excreta, so mounts of excreta are formed at different places. This habit becomes fatal as the poachers keep eye on the spot. |
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Diedt in the Wild:Grasses and leaves. |
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Diedt in the Zoo: |
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| S.No. |
LIST OF ITEM |
PER HEAD |
| 1. |
MASH |
15 kg |
| 2. |
KUTTI / GREEN |
50 kg |
| 3. |
TREE FODDER |
50 kg |
| 4. |
AMLA GREEN |
50 gm |
| 5. |
RICE |
1.5 kg |
| 6. |
MOONG |
1.5 kg |
| 7. |
GUR |
1.5 kg |
| 8. |
HALDI |
100 gm |
| 9. |
COMMON SALT |
100 gm |
| 10. |
LIN SEED |
100 gm |
| 11. |
BANANA |
6 no |
| 12. |
MUSTARD OIL |
500 gm |
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Animal in Captivity at NZP:The NZP has two female namely Maheshwari and Anjuha. The details of each individual are given as under. |
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- Maheshwari: D.O.B. 27.11.1997, born at NZP to Daboo and Rubi.
- Anjuha: D.O.B. 10.11.2005 born at NZP to Ayodhya and Maheshwari.
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Animal in Wild:Indian rhinoceros is the largest rhinoceros in Asia. It prefers tall grasses, swamps and reed beds. They are usually solitary and remain near the water to take bath and enjoying wallowing the mud. They have particular places for drooping its excreta. There are about 2500 rhinoceros exist in the wild.
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Threats:The causes of decline of the rhino population in the past were due to destruction and fragmentation of rhino habitat primarily for extension of agriculture and tea gardens, poaching of rhino for horns and other parts attributed to have magical medicinal value.
The average weight of an Indian rhino horn is around 750 gms. In international markets the price of one kilogram of powdered horn cost around 40,000 US dollars. Such high price lures and proves to be the strongest incentive for poaching (Dutta 1996).
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