Home › Mammalia › Rhinocerotidae › Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
SPECIES PROFILE
Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)
Rhinoceros
IUCN STATUS
Vulnerable
CONSERVATION STATUS
Vulnerable
CLASS
Mammalia
GEOGRAPHICAL RANGE
Primarily Assam (Kaziranga), with small populations in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
DIET
Herbivorous
HABITAT
Floodplain grasslands, swamps, near rivers
🔬 Classification
PHYLUM
Chordata
CLASS
Mammalia
ORDER
Perissodactyla
FAMILY
Rhinocerotidae
GENUS
Rhinoceros
📋 Description
SIZE
3.7-3.8 meters long, 1.7-2 meters at shoulder, 1,800-2,700 kg
COLORATION
Grey-brown skin with deep folds, single horn up to 60 cm
ADAPTATIONS
Thick skin for protection, horn for defense and foraging
🌿 Ecology
HABITAT
Floodplain grasslands, swamps, near rivers
DIET
Herbivorous
GEOGRAPHIC RANGE
Primarily Assam (Kaziranga), with small populations in West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh
REPRODUCTION
Females gestate 15-16 months, birthing one calf every 2-3 years
DIET DETAILS
Grasses, leaves, aquatic plants; grazes heavily
⚠️ Threats & Conservation
PRIMARY THREATS
Poaching for horn, habitat loss from flooding and agriculture
💡 Interesting Facts
1
Armored Titans: Their 2-ton bodies with skin folds charge at 40 km/h in Kaziranga's grasslands with 2400 rhinos. Conservation since 1905 revived their numbers from 200.
2
Flood Survivors: Grazing 80 kg of grass daily in Manas they swim floods with 3-meter horns piercing foes. Their 1000 sq km range thrives due to anti-poaching patrols.
🔭 Sighting Guide
📍 BEST PLACES TO SIGHT
Kaziranga National Park in Assam has the world's largest rhino population
Manas National Park in Assam grasslands hosts recovering rhino populations
Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh has reintroduced rhinos for sightings
🗓️ BEST TIME TO SIGHT
November-March. Dry season concentrates rhinos in grasslands near water.
🎯 SIGHTING TIPS
Join jeep safaris at dawn to see rhinos grazing in open areas.
