Greater one-horned

rhino

Rhinoceros unicornis

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IUCN Red List status:

Endangered

For more info on classifications visit www.iucnredlist.org

Diet

Rhinos are HERBIVORES or, more specifically, folivores (leaf based), feasting on twigs, shrubs, small trees and other such foliage, such as grasses.

Habitat

These rhinos live in tall grasslands, adjacent swamps and riverine forests at the foothills of the Himalayan mountains in India and Nepal.

Fun Fact

Despite their size, these rhinos are EXCELLENT swimmers! They're semi-aquatic and can often be seen submerged in water.

Fun Fact

Greater one-horned rhinos have prehensile mouth parts to help them feed on vegetation

These prehistoric-looking rhinos are easily distinguishable with their thick, armour-like skin.

Their horns are made from keratin (the same protein that makes our fingernails and hair), and can be regrow if broken off. These rhinos are born without horns, and only develop them once they are about 6 years old. They use their horns to forage for roots and find food!

They skin appears to look like plates of amour, due to it’s thickness. A layer of fat under their skin allows them to regulate their temperature and their thick skin protects them from sharp thorns and branches when browsing for food.

Adult males live a solitary life. Groups consist of females and calves and mothers and their calves
stay together for around 4 years.

PSSSTT

“Rhinos around the world are under increasing pressure due largely to the senseless poaching of their horn. We need more people to be aware of their plight and join us in the fight to end the slaughter and ensure these magnificent animals are around for the future.”

Tim Rowlands, Curator of Mammals

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mph

Although then may appear bulky, greater one-horned rhinos can run up to 25mph!

Not long ago there were less than 200 greater one-horned rhinoceros in the wild. They were
hunted almost to extinction.

Now there are about 2,600, but they still face threats in India and Nepal. Poachers target them for their horns and a lot of land where they once lived has been taken over by farmers so it’s important we do all we can to stop their numbers going down to critical levels again.