background
tv schedule store
logo nav barDiscovery ChannelThe Learning Channel (TLC)Animal PlanetTravel ChannelDiscovery Health Channel
.com address
bottom
search top
site index
search
February 14, 2012
Species Gallery

Rhino Range:
The Indian rhino is found in northern Pakistan, India, Nepal, Bangladesh and Assam.

Indian or Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros
Rhinoceros unicornis

The Indian rhino is one of the few species that has been able to rebuild its population. At one time this species had the entire lower Himalayan range to roam, but then was reduced to a small pocket of 80 to 100 animals in Nepal and to several hundred in northeastern India. Now, because of increased protection, the Indian rhino population is at 2,520. However, poaching remains a problem and there are periodic outbreaks of attacks on these animals.

Second only to the Asian elephant in mass, this rhino can weigh up to 5,000 pounds and grow to 6 and a half feet. The most distinctive feature of this species is its rivet-plated knobby skin, which looks like armor but is in fact very sensitive. Considering the enormous size of this species, its one horn is fairly small and can grow up to 24 inches long.

This animal likes to feed on everything from grasses to fruit trees and can grab its food with its semi-prehensile upper lip.

Females mature sexually around the age of 6, while males do so around the age of 10. The gestation period is up to 16 months, and their life span is approximately 47 years.

previous next
advertisement

Pictures: Eyewire/Getty Images | PhotoDisc/Getty Images | David Kohl/AP Photo | AP Photo/World Wildlife Fund, Mike Baltzer | San Diego Zoo/AP Photo |

SUBSCRIBE TO OUR NEWSLETTERS

Discovery Channel | TLC | Animal Planet | Discovery Health | Science Channel | Planet Green
Discovery Kids | Military Channel | Discovery News | Investigation Discovery | HD Theater | Turbo | FitTV

HowStuffWorks | TreeHugger | Petfinder | PetVideo | Discovery Education

Visit the Discovery Store: Toys & Games | Telescopes | DVD Sets | Planet Earth DVD | Gift Ideas

By visiting this site, you agree to the terms and conditions
of our Visitor Agreement. Please read. Privacy Policy.
ATTENTION! We recently updated our privacy policy. The changes are effective as of September 10, 2008.
To see the new policy, click here. Questions? See the policy for the contact information.

Copyright © 2012 Discovery Communications, LLC.

The leading global real-world media and entertainment company.