Indian Rhino

Scientific Name: Rhinoceros unicornis

The Indian or greater one-horned rhino has been classically described in literature and art for centuries.  Known as the “plated rhino” the Indian rhino has thick shields of skin that protect the rhino’s vital areas during fights with other rhinos.  This rhino species lives in moist river valleys in India and Nepal where it congregates in groups in the grassy meadows where they feed, and in mud wallows and water holes to keep cool.  The horn of the rhino is made of keratin material (finger nails, hair) but is revered in traditional Chinese medicine reportedly as an analgesic. The once widespread Indian rhino was reduced to numbers as low as 100 animals by 1960 but due to good management practices and protection by wildlife officers in India and Nepal their numbers have now recovered.  Threats to the rhinos continue however due to the ever increasing demand for rhino horn in traditional Asian medicine markets.

White Oak Conservation Center only recently became involved with this rhino species and currently keeps two adult females and one adult male. The first Indian Rhino calf was born at WOCC in July 2011. In the Florida summer they can often be found lying completely submerged in their pool to keep cool, with just their nose and ear tips showing above the water’s surface.  The Indian rhino’s courtship can be particularly aggressive with both sexes horning and even biting and severely wounding their potential mate.  Zoos which provide large spaces for their Indian rhinos have experienced the most success breeding this species, and the Conservation Center expects the same positive results.

Through the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), which is based at White Oak Conservation Center, we have provided support for conservation projects for the Indian rhino.  In India, rhinos are being trans-located from Kaziranga National Park to other parks in India where rhinos were eliminated by poaching.  The IRF and a host of conservation organizations are supporting this work and the positive rhino conservation efforts being implemented by the government of India.  Because of these efforts the wild population of Indian rhinos is slowly growing and being replaced into areas where they once thrived.