Indian Rhinoceros

IUCN

Scientific Name：Rhinoceros unicornis

Basic Information

Scientific classification

name：Indian Rhinoceros
Scientific Name：Rhinoceros unicornis
Outline：Ungulata
Family：Rhinocerotidae Rhinoceros

Vital signs

length：Head–body 3.0–3.8 m; shoulder height 1.7–1.9 m
Weight：1,800–3,000 kg (males larger)
lifetime：35–45 years (wild estimate)

Feature

Floodplain grazer; wallowing behaviour; armor‑like folds; recovering numbers.

Distribution and Habitat

Alluvial grasslands and swamp forests of India and Nepal; strongholds at Kaziranga and Chitwan.

Appearance

Grey‑brown thick skin with prominent folds; single long horn; robust build.

Details

Indian rhinoceros (greater one‑horned rhino, Rhinoceros unicornis) ranges across floodplains of India and Nepal. After a dramatic 20th‑century decline, strong protection and habitat management have driven a sustained recovery, yet the species remains listed as Vulnerable (VU).

Ecology

Primarily a grazer of tall alluvial grasses, also browsing on shoots, fruits and aquatic plants. Adults wallow in mud and water to cool and deter parasites; most are solitary and mark ranges with dung and scent.

Size & Reproduction

Males commonly 2,500–3,000+ kg, shoulder height 1.7–1.9 m; females smaller. Females breed at ~6–8 years; gestation 15–16 months; single calf; inter‑calving interval 3–4 years.

Threats & Conservation

Poaching pressure requiring intensive intelligence‑led enforcement.
Floodplain succession, invasive plants and human encroachment reducing grassland quality.
Small, isolated herds vulnerable to floods and disease.

Key strongholds include Kaziranga, Pobitora, Orang, Manas (India) and Chitwan, Bardia (Nepal).

FAQ

Q1. How does it differ from Javan or Sumatran rhinos?

It is larger with very pronounced armor‑like skin folds and a single long horn; Javan rhino has a shorter horn and subtler folds;
Sumatran rhino is hairier and has two horns.

Q2. Why is it classed as Vulnerable?

Numbers are recovering but risks from poaching and fragmented habitat persist across the range.

Q3. Where can it be seen?

Best observed in protected reserves such as Kaziranga (India) and Chitwan (Nepal) with permits and guides.