Indian Rhinoceros
The Indian rhinoceros is a conservation success story with the species moving from Endangered to Vulnerable classification in 2008. The population has turned around from approximately 200 individuals in the late 1990’s to over 2,800 throughout India and Nepal today. This is thanks to strict protection of the species within national parks and park protection. Re-introduction programs have begun and the species is starting to repopulate former habitats where not so long ago they had become extinct from. We cannot afford relax though - poaching is still a major threat to the Indian rhino as is habitat quality. Most of the rhino habitat is surrounded by people and farming. Rhino are known to stray from the safety of the parks and human rhino conflict is often encountered resulting in death or injury from both parties.
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Conservation Status
The population of Indian Rhinoceros is estimated to be around 2,800 through northern India and southern Nepal. Their numbers have returned somewhat from the brink of extinction in the early 20th Century when there was thought to be as few as 200 remaining. They are heavily reliant on conservation efforts to maintain their populations.
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Habitat
Indian Rhinos are native to the flood-plain grasslands and woodlands of Northern India. These rhino can often be observed semi-submersed in water and are, without a doubt, the most amphibious of the five rhino species.
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Diet
Usually a solitary animal, they feed primarily on grasses, occasionally feeding on browse.
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Other Features
The Indian Rhino has thick folds of skin that are likened to a coat of armour. It is the second largest rhino to the African White Rhino weighing up to 2.7 tonne and standing up to two meters in height. These rhino only have one horn and are grey in colour.