The Indian rhino, also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros, is distinguished by its tough, armour-like skin and single horn, unlike its African relatives, which have two horns. Males can weigh up to 2,200 kg and are primarily found grazing in floodplains in northern India and Nepal. Their prehensile lips, which are capable of grasping, make them well adapted to their herbivorous diet, which includes grasses, leaves, fruit, and aquatic plants, occasionally including crops. To avoid the heat, Indian rhinos are most active during cooler parts of the day and take refuge in water or mud holes.
Indian rhinos have poor eyesight but compensate with excellent hearing and smell. These enhanced senses help them locate mates during the breeding season. Female rhinos reach sexual maturity at around four to six years of age, while males typically breed at 9 years old. However, only the largest and dominant males are afforded an opportunity to mate. After a gestation period of 15–16 months, a single calf is born. Male rhinos play no role in raising the young. Indian rhinos are generally solitary animals, although mothers and their calves remain together. They establish territories, which they mark with urine, faeces, and secretions from scent glands. While they are territorial, they can gather peacefully at water sources.
Habitat
Native to the floodplains of northern India and Nepal, the Indian rhino thrives in wetlands and grasslands. They are herbivores, primarily consuming grasses, leaves, fruit, and a variety of aquatic plants they encounter while swimming.
