ONE HORNED RHINO

The one horned rhino also called the Great Indian rhinoceros and greater rhinoceros is native to the Indian subcontinent. It scientific name is rhinoceros unicorns. It is declared as a vulnerable species. Major threat are poaching and habitat loss. Now it habitat is fragmented with a population of 3555 in 2015. It natural habitat are alluvial grasslands and riverine forest

Once this huge beast was found from the western part of Pakistan to the north eastern part of India (Arunachal Pradesh). Due to high poaching in the 19th century and the rapid growth of agriculture led to the extinction of this species in former parts of the country. Another giant creature related to the Indian rhinoceros the javan rhino also thrive in the north eastern part of the subcontinent. But it get extinct from the area much earlier.


The one horned rhino as it name suggests have a single horn. It skin acts like am armor. But it is not protective against teak and leeches. There are few hair in the rhinos' body except those in the tail and in the ear.  Rhino has a pool sight but excellent smelling and hearing  power. Some people say that the horn of the rhino contain medical property but actually it is a myth, the horn is made up of keratin which is similar to that of our nails.

               Rhino are mostly active during dawn, dusk and night. They spend most of their daytime grazing or mud bathing. They make there own path through grasses. This paths are helpful to other small animals. Apart from it horn, the most dangerous thing of rhino are it sharp teeth. Rhinos always excreate at the same place everyday, this dung house is a place of messages. They appear to be slow Runner but when get aggressive, it chases the enemy with speed of 55 km/ hr.

   Diet
   
          Rhino are great grazer. They feed mainly on grasses but also eat tree leaves, small plantings. During flood, they mainly eat water hyacinth. During seasonal grass burning, this rhinos came here to feed on the burn grasses to get the required nutrients.

   Reproduction
       
            Rhinos get capable of breeding after five or six years. A mother rhino look after it baby for three years. There are no mating season for rhino. In this period great fight take place. Female chose those which are more stronger. If a weak male try to mate a female, the female chases him and bite his backside as a result bleeding occurs. Some males pressureies undeveloped female for mating. Babies doesn't have horn but a single domb like structure which gradually grows into a horn.

    Habitat

          The former habitat of the one horned rhino was from east Pakistan to the Myanmar border. Some scientists say that they also thrive near China border, Myanmar  and Indochina. But due to poaching and climatic changes these species was in high danger. Today most of these species are found in the terai arc landscape and Brahmaputra river valley. It is only found in India, Nepal and a few in Bhutan.

    Threat

          

 The major threat to all the rhino species in the world is poaching. In 20th century poaching has reach it highest. Poachers went into forest and kill this magnificent creatures. Poacher may kill rhino by -

1. Poacher which good quality guns and bullet which are able to pass through the rhino's skin

2. Poachers dig large hole trap and covered it with leaves. Any wandering animal step it foot there it would fall into the trap.

   3. Some poachers spray poison on grasses which are feed by the rhinos.
    
          

            Apart from this another problem is the seasonal flood which occurs in the Brahmaputra river valley. These normally happens in the month of May and June  which is the monsoon time in Assam. Due to high rainfall the water covers all the flat lands. Rhinos as well as other animals had to move to higher areas (karbi anglong). Due to scarcity of food many animals lose there energy in the struggle and die. Those which get alive they had to pass through the highway and mostly strike on vehicle. Sometimes, rhino mistake their way and step into urban areas

             
       Conservation
   
                Rhinos are very big creature and providing security is important as well as hard. To solve this problem a number of national had been made in India, Nepal and Bhutan to save this species. As a result, the population has raised since the few years. Some protected reserve are.
                                                                                         
1. Kaziranga national park (Assam).                                    1. Chitwan national park (Chitwan).
2. Jaldapara national park (West Bengal).                           2. Parsa national park (Parsa).
3. Pobitora wildlife sanctuary (Assam).                                3. Bardia national park (Bardia).    
4. Orang national park (Assam).                                             4. Suklaphata National Park.
5. Gorumara national park (West Bengal).                            5. Royal manas national park
7. Dudhwa national park (Uttar Pradesh).                                    
8. Manas national park (Assam).                            
                                                                                                   
    Government has made many highlands (highly elevated land lmade by human)  in flood prone areas. Wildlife corridors are made near protected areas for free movement of migratory animals and also to increase animals territory. Breeding projects in zoos and conservation and rehabbitation centre has been established. To protect this species more research is going on. In Lal Suhara national park in Pakistan two rhinos were reintroduce from Nepal. The highest rhino density area, kaziranga is transporting some of it rhino to manas national park in Assam which were killed by poachers. 

        Why does it matter? 

Rhinos are an important part of grassland ecosystem. There are many seed bearing plants which disperse their seed in grassland. Rhinos eat this sapling so they don't turn into forest. If rhino disapear, then grassland would turn into forest just like the picture shown. These will minimise the movement of small animal in that habitat. Some species of animal and bird only raise their babies in tall grasses. Rhinos are a part of our country's tourism. If we lost rhino, we will lost our dignity.