The great Indian one-horned rhinoceros (also known as the Indian rhinoceros or Indian rhino) is one of the world’s five living rhinoceros species. Classified as Vulnerable by the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN), only a few thousand individuals remain in the wild.
Historically, the species ranged across the Indo-Gangetic and Brahmaputra river basins, from present-day Pakistan to northeastern India. Today, it survives only in a handful of protected areas, primarily in northeastern India and the Terai region of northern India and Nepal.
The five living rhinoceros species are:
- Indian rhinoceros (found in Asia)
- Javan rhinoceros (found in Asia)
- Sumatran rhinoceros (found in Asia)
- White rhinoceros (found in Africa)
- Black rhinoceros (found in Africa)
Indian rhinoceros
Size, appearance, and lifespan
The Indian rhinoceros is about the same size as the white rhinoceros. These two species are the largest of the world’s five living rhinoceros species. Male Indian rhinoceroses are larger than females and can weigh over 2,000 kilograms (2 tonnes). Females generally weigh between 1,500 and 1,800 kilograms. It has thick, gray-brown skin with prominent folds, giving it an armor-plated appearance. These skin folds help regulate body temperature.
Unlike the white rhinoceros, which has two horns, the Indian rhinoceros has a single horn on its snout. Its horn is made entirely of keratin, the same protein found in human hair and nails, and is present in both males and females. In the wild, Indian rhinoceroses have an average lifespan of about 40 years.
Best place to see the Indian rhinoceros
The best place to see the Indian rhinoceros is Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam. Spread across about 430 square kilometres, the park is home to 2,613 Indian rhinoceroses (2022 census). More than half of the world’s wild Indian rhinoceros population is found in Kaziranga National Park.
Indian rhino population is on the rise
Conservation efforts to increase the Indian rhinoceros population have achieved significant success in recent decades. Today, rhino numbers are increasing in most protected areas across India and Nepal.
After Kaziranga National Park, Jaldapara National Park in West Bengal has the second-largest population of Indian rhinoceroses, with around 330 individuals. Dudhwa Tiger Reserve in Uttar Pradesh is home to about 53 rhinos. Rhino populations have also increased in Manas National Park in Assam and Gorumara National Park in West Bengal. In addition, Nepal is home to around 750 wild Indian rhinoceroses.
Importance of Rhinos in the ecosystem
The Indian rhinoceros is the second-largest land animal in the Indian subcontinent after the Asian elephant. It is considered a keystone species of the grassland ecosystem, playing a vital role in maintaining the health and diversity of its habitat. By grazing on vegetation, dispersing seeds, and creating open grasslands, Indian rhinoceroses help support a wide variety of plants, birds, and other wildlife.
The story of Bankey
Bankey was born at the Assam State Zoo in Guwahati. Along with four other Indian rhinoceroses, he was relocated to Dudhwa National Park as part of a rhino reintroduction program. At Dudhwa, Bankey quickly became the dominant male. Many of the Indian rhinoceroses living in Dudhwa today are his descendants. Bankey died in December 2016 at the remarkable age of 49 due to age-related health problems.
Quick facts about Indian rhinoceros
| Binomial name | Rhinoceros unicornis |
| Weight | Over 2000 kilograms (males), 1500-1800 kilograms (females) |
| Countries | India and Nepal |
| IUCN conservation status | Vulnerable |
Read more