One Horned Rhino is endemic to Indian subcontinent. Found mostly in India, Nepal and Bangladesh, they have been listed in the IUCN Red list for the most vulnerable animals, and only about 3,000 are left in the wild.
Popularly known as the Great One-horned rhinos or Indian Rhinos, the specific breed of Rhinoceros are found only in the Indian subcontinent.
Factfile
| Family | Rhinocerotidae |
| Species | R.unicornis |
| Height | 5.75 – 6.5 feet |
| Weight | 4,000 – 6,000 Pounds |
| Length | 10 – 12.5 feet |
| Habitat | Tropical and Subtropical Grasslands |
| Location | India, Nepal, Pakistan, Bangladesh and Bhutan |
Hunting & Poaching
Rhinos are one of the most hunted and poached animals in the history. The passionate hunters of yesteryear India, namely; Maharajas, Hunters and British officials, reduced the number of rhinos to few hundreds from the thousands.
The activity of rampant poaching which started in the 1990s made them even more scarce. They were being mostly poached for their horns, which are believed to carry medicinal qualities.
Conservation
The rapid decline of Rhinos in the wild shed light on the importance of protection. Since then, WWF and other stakeholders worked together to help protect and increase their number in the wild. Today, they are mainly kept under the surveillance in the Buffer zones, national parks and conservation areas.
Chitwan National Park (UNESCO World Heritage Site), covering 932 km2, was established in 1973 in the subtropical inner Terai belts of South-central Nepal. It is known as the first national park of Nepal. A buffer zone, it protects endangered species of Royal Bengal Tiger and One-horned Rhinos.
The latest rhino count was conducted from 11 April to 2 May 2015 and revealed 645 individuals living in Parsa Wildlife Reserve, Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, Shuklaphanta Wildlife Reserve and respective buffer zones in the Terai Arc Landscape.
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