NEWS→ SC-NBWL approved a DNA-based indexing system for the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros to strengthen conservation and curb wildlife crime.
About
- Scientific name: Rhinoceros unicornis
- Largest surviving rhino species; single-horned mega-herbivore.
- IUCN Status: Vulnerable (VU).
- Population recovered from ~200 (early 1900s) to ~4,000 today—one of Asia's major conservation success stories.
Habitat & Distribution
- Found in alluvial grasslands, floodplains & marshes of the Indo-Gangetic & Brahmaputra plains.
- ~4,000 individuals globally.
- Kaziranga NP (Assam) hosts >70% of the world's population; also found in Terai (Nepal).
Key Features
- Single horn made of keratin (no bony core).
- Armor-like skin with deep folds.
- Semi-prehensile upper lip for grazing.
- Herbivore: Feeds on grasses, aquatic plants & shrubs.
- Mostly solitary, but gathers at mud wallows and grazing grounds.