Indian Rhinoceros Profile
Also called the greater one-horned rhino, the Indian rhinoceros is one of 3 rhinoceros species found in Asia, along with the Sumatran rhino and the Javan, or lesser one-horned rhino. Comparable in size to the white rhino in Africa, the Indian rhino is considered one of the world’s biggest rhinoceros species. 1
Male Indian rhinos are larger than females and may stand at almost 2 meters tall and weigh over 2 tonnes. Unlike their African cousins, Indian rhinos have only a single, long horn on their snouts and their skin is made up of several, thick folds that somewhat resemble body armor.
Both male and female Indian rhinos have horns, although their horn only develops once they reach adulthood. 2
Indian rhinos were once found across the northern Indian subcontinent, however, they are now only found in regions along the border between northern India and southern Nepal. The Indian rhino prefers habitats with abundant water sources and tends to inhabit wetland and swamp areas.
In search of food, they will also occupy adjacent grassland, forests, and woodland, although seldom far from rivers and streams. Water sources not only provide drinking water but also offer muddy areas to wallow in.
This species is perfectly adapted to life around water and they will even swim across rivers to find new food sources.
Like the African white rhino, Indian rhinos are grazers and live on a diet that consists mainly of grass. Their strong, prehensile top lip helps them pull up tough grasses and plant stems and tubers.
Although they mainly feed on grass, Indian rhinos may eat over 150 different species of plant and with a keen sense of smell, they are able to locate ripening fruit from several kilometers away.
As well as grass, fruits, and plant stem, these rhinos will also feed on wild rice grains, bamboo shoots, and even plant flowers. When near water, the Indian rhino may even dive beneath the surface to feed on aquatic plants. 3
As with all rhinoceros species, the Indian rhino was once persecuted to the brink of extinction as a result of poaching for their horns. At the start of the 20th century, there were less than 200 wild individuals left in the world and they were in very real danger of disappearing forever.
However, the Indian rhino is now robustly protected through the creation of protected reserves, anti-poaching programs, and conservation education strategies.
There are now around 4,000 Indian rhinos across their range and the protection of this species has also benefited other animals such as the Bengal tiger and Indian leopard.
Indian Rhinoceros Facts Overview
| Habitat: | Grasslands, wetlands and forests |
| Location: | Northern India and southern Nepal |
| Lifespan: | 40 years in the wild |
| Size: | Length around 3.5m. Height at shoulder, up to 1.9m |
| Weight: | Average 1,800kg |
| Colour/Appearance: | Very large rhino with greyish, thick skin. Hide consists of numerous folds that appear more pink where the folds meet. Single horn at end of snout. |
| Diet: | Herbivorous, mainly feeding on grasses as well as fruits, leaves, shoots and grains |
| Predators: | Adults have no natural predators, calves may be taken by tigers but this is rare |
| Top Speed: | 40km/h |
| Number of Species: | 1 |
| Threats: | Poaching and habitat loss |
| Conservation status: | Vulnerable |
Within Indian rhino habitats, many well-trodden paths amongst the tall grasses can be observed. These rhino ‘highways’ are the paths that the Indian rhino takes each day when searching for food. 4
They prefer to forage early in the morning and late in the afternoon to avoid the hottest times of the day and take rests in between their meals. Indian rhinos will regularly feed throughout the night too, using their heightened sense of hearing and smell to navigate their surroundings, find food and detect potential danger.
Healthy adult Indian rhinos have no predators other than humans, however, calves or sick rhinos may be targeted by desperate Bengal tigers.
Despite possibly reaching over 60cm in length, the horn of an Indian rhino is not used for fighting. When fights do occur, most often between males, they instead use their surprisingly long and sharp lower incisor teeth or tusks to stab their challenger and these are capable of inflicting incredibly deep wounds. 5
Their horns do serve an important purpose though and are used to help dig up plant shoots or break taller foliage to access fruits or twigs. Males with longer horns are also more attractive to females as horn length demonstrates maturity and a healthy body condition,
Indian rhinos are mostly solitary and outside the breeding season, they will avoid one another through the depositing of scented dung and urine.
They also have sweat glands that release pheromones which are rubbed against grass and trees and indicate to others the presence of another rhino in the area. Where there is an abundance of a certain food type, such as figs, Indian rhinos will rather tolerate other individuals feeding alongside them than risk injury by challenging them. 6
As well as scent markings, Indian rhinos also communicate through snorts and body language which communicates a state of calm or aggression.
Both female and male Indian rhinos mate with several partners and males may fight one another when establishing preferred breeding territories. Once a male has mated with a female, he leaves to find other mates and plays no role in caring for his potential offspring.
Female Indian rhinos are pregnant for up to 16 months and give birth to a single calf that may weigh over 80kg. Calves feed from their mothers for almost a year and a half before beginning to eat vegetation.
The bond between mother and calf is incredibly strong and juveniles will remain with their mothers for up to 10 years before they become fully independent and search for a territory of their own.
Interesting Indian Rhinoceros Facts
1. Indian rhinos are the second largest rhino species in the world
These rhinos can measure over 3.5m in length and some males may be even larger than their white rhino cousins. 7
2. They only have a single horn on their snout
Like the Javan rhino, Indian rhinos possess only one horn. The other 3 rhino species all have two horns.
3. Their horns are not used for fighting
Rather than risk breaking a horn, Indian rhinos stab each other with their sharp lower teeth or tusks. 8
4. Indian rhinos are giant vegetarians
These rhinos feed solely on grasses, fruits and other vegetation.
5. They need to eat at least 150kg of food per day to survive
Powering such a huge frame requires a lot of energy and Indian rhinos regularly eat up to 200kg of food each day.
6. Indian rhinos are sometimes referred to as being ‘semi-aquatic’
As well as rarely being seen far from water, Indian rhinos are capable swimmers and can even dive underwater for food.
7. They live in areas where it can get very hot and humid
As temperatures can reach over 350C, Indian rhinos need to submerge themselves in water or cake themselves in mud to avoid heat exhaustion.
8. Both male and female Indian rhinos have horns
At maturity, both sexes grow horns, however males’ tend to be much longer.
9. Females whistle to attract males
When ready to mate, females produce a whistling sound to attract nearby males.
10. Indian rhinos give birth after almost a year and a half of pregnancy
It is therefore no surprise that calves can weigh over 80kg when born.
11. Calves remain with their mothers for many years
Mothers care for and teach their calves for up to 10 years before the young rhinos become fully independent.
12. The Indian rhino is a great conservation success story
An increase from a population of less than 200 to around 4,000 individuals is the result of concerted, well-organized, and well-implemented conservation strategies. 9
Indian Rhinoceros Fact-File Summary
Scientific Classification
| Kingdom: | Animalia |
| Phylum: | Chordata |
| Class: | Mammalia |
| Order: | Perissodactyla |
| Family: | Rhinocerotidae |
| Genus | Rhinoceros |
| Species | unicornis |
Fact Sources & References
- “GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINO CONSERVATION”, ZSL.
- B.C Hazarika (2010), “Studies on the behaviour of great Indian Rhinoceros”, Research Gate.
- Bhaskar Jyoti Das (2019), “THE PRE-EXISTING AND CURRENT STATUS OF INDIAN RHINOCEROS IN ASSAM (INDIA): A MINI REVIEW”, International Journal of Current Research.
- “Greater one-horned rhino”, Save the Rhino.
- “GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINO”, International Rhino Foundation.
- “Indian Rhinos”, ifaw.
- “Rhinoceros unicornis Indian rhinoceros”, Animal Diversity Web.
- “GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINO”, World Wildlife.
- “Indian Rhinoceros”, National Geographic.