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If you translate the name of the Indian rhino from Latin - it will sound like "one-horned rhino." Sometimes representatives of this species are also called armored rhinos. In Asia, you can find only one species that will surpass the Indian rhino in size. This is an elephant. It is this species that is the largest in comparison with other species of rhinos that live in Asia.
Appearance
Indian rhinos are very large animals. Sometimes their weight can reach 2500 kg. Males can have a height of up to 2 m. Females, however, have slightly smaller dimensions. The horn of representatives of this species can reach a length of about 25 cm. But in some individuals it can be up to 60 cm. But such a horn can be seen only in males. In females, it is very small and looks more like a lump.
These animals have no hair. They have a pinkish-gray skin. Its surface is divided into areas by folds. Therefore, it looks like a shell. That is why one of the names of the species is “armored rhino”. It is quite difficult to determine what color the surface of the animal's skin has. The Vedas, they very often like to wallow in the mud, after which it remains on them a whole layer.
There are small tassels on the ears, as well as on the tail of the animal. On their feet they have 3 fingers. There is a deep fold on the shoulders of the rhino. They have small eyes. The upper lip is curved to the bottom. And on the lower jaw there are very powerful incisors, which often serve as rhinoceros weapons.
These animals are very strong and large. But they look like awkward heavyweight fighters. Such an external impression is misleading. In fact, rhinos have a fast reaction, they are quite mobile. If danger is approaching, the Indian rhino can accelerate to a speed of 40 km / h. They have excellent hearing and a keen sense of smell. Thanks to this, already at a distance of several hundred meters, the rhino will understand that there is a predatory animal or man. But their eyesight is rather weak.
Nutrition
Where dwells
A few centuries ago, representatives of this type of mono were found almost everywhere in the south of Asia and China. They lived in the eastern part of Iran. But the size and habitat were significantly influenced by human activities. They were hunted a lot, the habitat was destroyed. In almost all of these regions, the rhino population has declined significantly. After colonization by Europe, Indian rhinos remained only in reserves. The number was also affected by a large number of hunters who used firearms. In addition, the jungle area has been steadily declining as a result of intensive population growth in Asia.
Today, representatives of this species live in southern Pakistan. They can also be seen in eastern India, and Nepal. A number of animals live in northern Bangladesh. The territories in which rhinos live are very strictly protected today. There are not many individuals left in the world. The largest population is in the state of Assam. This is the territory of India.Animals live in the national park called Kaziranga. About 1600 animals live here. This represents approximately 2/3 of all species in the world. About 600 individuals live in Nepal in Chitwan Park. About 300 mono rhinos are also seen in one of Pakistan's parks. Today, researchers claim that about 2.5 thousand Indian rhinos live in the world. Their numbers are growing.
In the Red Book, this species is listed as vulnerable. But Sumatran, as well as Javanese species are in a more distressed situation.
The closest species is Javanese rhino, which also belongs to the genus Indian. Their body reaches about 3 m in length, they grow up to 1.6 m in height. They have 1 horn that grows to 20 cm. This species is very rare. In total there are about 60 representatives. In captivity it does not work to keep them.
Gender differences
The horn of females is much less pronounced, they are not as large as males.
Behavior
These animals prefer solitude. Each representative chooses for himself a territory of about 4 thousand square meters. m. Elephant grass will certainly grow on this territory, a puddle of mud will be located, as well as a larger lake or the coast of a larger reservoir. With the help of manure, males, as a rule, mark their possessions.
You can see many paths in the thickets themselves, where a lot of elephant grass grows. They are trodden by rhinos. Among them, there are common ones along which animals make their way to puddles. But there are also personal paths that the rhino guards from others.
These animals, although they have enormous weight, swim beautifully. They can cross a wide river or lake.
They do not make loud piercing sounds. If you disturb the Indian rhino, you can hear a sound like snoring. The female covenant of her offspring grunts. And when there is a mating season, her sound is like a whistle. Rhinos can also grunt while seeking food. But if one of them is injured or feels a special danger, they emit a loud roar.
Rhinos are usually very aggressive. If an individual is irritated, it can also rush at an elephant. They can attack even for no apparent reason, therefore it is not worth approaching these animals.
When an Indian rhino attacks, it uses not its horn, but its powerful incisors. In this way they inflict very deep wounds.
Breeding
In captivity, animals live up to 70 years, and in nature it is usually less.
Enemies in nature
Predatory animals do not attack them. Tiger attacks sometimes occur, but only on babies, since the tiger is not able to defeat this animal in battle. They are not even afraid of elephants, fearlessly rushing at them. The elephant usually leaves.
Most of the trouble for these animals is caused by various parasites. These are lice, ticks. Only birds help from them. Young individuals suffer from helminthic invasions.
Interesting Facts
- Birds usually live next to rhinos. These are herons, and bee-eater, and starlings. They prey on insects that a rhino makes fly. Birds also feed on insects that live on the skin of an animal.
- It was this species that was the first of all rhinoceros species that people from Europe saw. For the first time among them this animal was depicted by Dürer. It was an engraving called Rhino. The artist created this work without seeing the animal. The rhino here looked a little wrong. And in 1513 the animal was taken to Lisbon. It was a gift from the Rajah to the King of Portugal. Then it was Manuel I. The animal was exposed as a wonder to the people, and then sent to the Pope.It should have been a gift, but he did not reach his destination. The ship sank as a result of a storm.
- Indian feudal lords had fun hunting rhinos. This can be judged by the miniatures that have remained since the 16th century. Representatives of the Mughal dynasty hunt them on these animals, sitting on elephants.
- Most damage to this species was caused by rhino hunting. There were legends that the horn of an animal has great power. The inhabitants of Asia were sure that this is a very good aphrodisiac, as well as a real salvation against poison. Even today, the horn of this animal is very expensive on the black market. It is usually sold by poor Asians who want to get rich in this way. But in India, there are many laws that strictly protect these animals from poachers.
Video: Indian Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)
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