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Fast Facts:

The greater one-horned, also called the Indian rhino, is the second largest species of rhinoceros.
There are 5 species of rhinos in the world. Three of the species are found in Asia - the Sumatran, the Javan, and the Indian rhino. Two of the species are found in Africa - the white rhino and the
black rhino.

Greater One-Horned Rhino (Indian)

Scientific Name	Rhinoceros unicornis
Classification	Phylum Chordata, Class Mammalia, Order Perissodactyla, Family Rhinocerotidae
Status	Endangered. As few as 2,000 Indian rhinos are believed to survive in the wild today.
Range	near swamps and rivers in Nepal and India.
Habitat	Forests and floodplains
Diet	Primarily grass, but will eat some shrubs.
Size	Weight: 3,500 to 6,000 pounds Height: 5.5 to 6 feet at the shoulder
Horn length	8 to 24 inches
Lifespan	up to 40 years
Location
Print Fact Sheet	Rhino

Conservation

All of the world's rhino species are endangered. Today fewer than 14,000 rhinos are found throughout the world.

Threats to survival
Greater one-horned rhinos are endangered due to poaching and habitat loss. Their horns are used for traditional Asian medicines and to make dagger handles in Yemen.

Indian rhinos are also threatened by habitat loss. India and Nepal are very densely populated areas and the ever-increasing human population continues to encroach on wildlife habitat. The floodplains where the rhinos live are often used for agriculture. The remaining areas of the flood plains are subject to severe floods and are not suitable year-round habitats for the rhinos.

Continued destruction of forests increases the severity of the annual flooding.

Efforts To Save The Rhino
While Greater one-horned rhinos are still threatened with extinction, their numbers are up from an all time low of 900 individuals in 1970.

The rhinos are important in rites accompanying the accession of kings in Nepal. Over 400 rhinos are guarded in Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal, although areas around the park are densely populated by humans.

A second population of rhinos has been established in Royal Bardia National Park in southwestern Nepal. Although the Nepalese government has provided guards for the parks, some poaching still occurs.

The American Zoo and Aquarium Association has a Species Survival Plan organized for the Greater one-horned rhino. SSPs are special programs designed by a team of zoo and wildlife professionals. The plans outline breeding plans, work to increase public awareness and education, help conduct research, and in some cases, organize programs to reintroduce captive-bred wildlife into secure habitats.

The Association of Zoo Keepers (AAZK) support an annual fundraiser called Bowling for Rhinos. All funds raised go to support rhino conservation. For more information on Bowling for Rhinos go to here website or contact your local zoo to participate.

Special Features

The greater one-horned rhinoceros has a semi-prehensile upper lip, specially adapted for grasping branches, twigs, and other food sources.
The skin of greater one-horned rhinos is covered with many round bumps. Their skin forms folds that give the animal the appearance of being covered in armor plating.

Physical characteristics:

Rhino horn is made of thousands of tiny strands of keratin, the same material that makes up human fingernails. Rhino horn can grow 2 to 3 inches per year.

Rhino skulls have a large bump on the front that helps anchor the horn to the head.

Rhinos have poor eyesight but well-developed senses of hearing and smell.

Rhinos walk and run on their toes, making them similar to horses. In spite of their size, rhinos are able to turn quickly and run fast - up to 35 mph.

Greater one-horned rhinos are excellent swimmers and can cross wide rivers.

Rhinos enjoy wallowing in the mud. The mud creates a coating on their skin to protect them from sunburn and insect bites. Mud wallowing is also an effective method of heat loss.

Greater one-horned rhinos have high-crowned molars and two tusk-like incisors on the lower jaw.

Social Structure & Behavior

Scent marking is important in rhino communication. Greater one-horned rhinos mark the paths of their territories with secretions from special glands that are found above and behind the ball of the foot on all four legs. Rhinos will also mark their areas with urine or dung.

Aside from a cow and calf pair, greater one-horned rhinos are basically solitary animals. Occasionally temporary groups will form. Greater one-horned rhinos will become highly aggressive towards one another if their population density becomes too high. Dominant bulls are usually the aggressors. There are dominant and inferior bulls in the greater one-horned rhino social hierarchy. However, they usually do not live in a fixed home range that they defend as a strictly defined territory.

The continuous seasonal changes make it virtually impossible for a bull to defend a strictly defined territory. A bull will, however, enforce dominance as he shifts his main areas of activity. He will scent mark his area and challenge other dominant or inferior bulls as they approach.

Breeding & care of young

Females become sexually mature at 5 to7 years of age; males at 10 years. Dominant males will often fight with each other over a breeding female.

Gestation lasts 15 to 16 months. Calves weigh approximately 150 pounds at birth and are usually weaned around 18 months of age.