35 interesting and curious facts about rhinos. Indian rhinos: description, habitat, photo Enemies in nature

View: Indian rhinoceros= Rhinoceros unicornis Linnaeus, 1758

One-horned rhinos (genus Rhinoceros) are represented by several species among the Pleistocene fossils. ice age, when they were distributed in Eurasia from Europe to Taiwan and Japan and through the Asian mainland to Sumatra, Java and Ceylon. The genus now includes only two relic species: the Indian rhinoceros, R. unicornis, and the Javan rhinoceros, R. sondaicus. The Indian rhinoceros is the largest of the three Asian rhinoceros species now existing, it has a more massive body than the Javan rhinoceros, the height at the shoulders exceeds 180 centimeters, and the length is more than four meters.

The most amazing feature Indian rhinoceros - its thick skin, forming loose folds on the neck, behind the shoulder blades and in front of the sacrum, which gives the impression that the animal is chained in armor. This impression is further enhanced by the raised tubercles, very similar to rivets, covering the sides and upper parts of the legs, with an almost complete absence of hair on the skin. Only around the ears and at the tip of the tail grows stiff bristles. The head is massive, with small eyes, the upper lip, like that of the African black rhinoceros, is grasping. On the lower jaw there are a pair of pointed incisors (fangs), which the animal successfully uses in those rare cases when it has to attack the enemy.

The massiveness of the rhinoceros and its intimidating appearance are misleading. In fact, this shy animal is rarely aggressive unless it is injured and rescues the young.

The Indian rhinoceros never goes far from the water. All day long he bathes or lies in liquid mud. The main food is grass, young shoots and reeds. The rhinoceros feeds mainly in the morning and evening, and in the middle of the day it rests or takes mud baths, especially in hot weather when he is overwhelmed by countless insects in marshy areas.

Pregnancy in the Indian rhinoceros lasts from 474 to 486 days, and one cub is born. It is believed that the female feeds the baby with milk for six to ten months, therefore, she can produce offspring once every three years. If the cub sucks milk for two years, as some experts think, the birth can occur only once every four years.

In the Middle Ages, the Indian rhinoceros was distributed in many parts of northern India and Nepal, from Peshawar and Kashmir in the west and along the foothills of the Himalayas to the very border with Burma. The southern limit of its former range is unclear, but since the animal is so closely associated with water, it could not have lived outside the Ganges basin. Information about its existence in Southeast Asia is doubtful; they could refer to two other species of the Asian rhinoceros. Apparently, the Indian rhinoceros did not penetrate further to the east beyond the borders of Assam and East Bengal (now Bangladesh).

Population growth and the resulting dramatic change in natural environment have driven the rhinoceros out of most of the areas where it lived before. First of all, the fertile lowlands were mastered, and the rhinos retreated to the foothills, but when the lands gradually began to be cultivated there, the animal disappeared everywhere, remaining only in the most remote and inaccessible places of its range. AT last years increased hunting caused significant damage to a small herd of animals, the number of which had already fallen too sharply due to loss of habitats.

Less than a hundred years ago, the species was still relatively numerous, as may be shown by the fact that in 1876 the Government of Bengal paid a bonus of 20 rupees to anyone who killed a rhinoceros on the grounds that they were damaging the crops. In the Terai, the Nepalese built high bamboo platforms in the fields when harvest time approached, and they scared away rhinoceroses with gongs and ringing of bells.

By 1910, the number of animals had declined so much that hunting for them was prohibited in Bengal and Assam, and several reserves were created in the valley of the upper Brahma putra to protect the species and its habitats. However, reserves by themselves were not yet sufficient protection against poachers.

Rhinoceros horn has always been in great demand in India, but after the Javan rhinoceros was almost exterminated in Southeast Asia (it used to be widely sold in China), the market value of the horn has increased greatly. The horn trade became more and more profitable, and poaching took on a wide scope.

Now the Indian rhinoceros lives only in eight reserves in India and Nepal. Occasionally, information is received about individual individuals from other places, but almost always it turns out that this is an animal that wandered there from the reserve. However, small isolated groups could still be preserved in some places, for example, in the border region of Ti-rup in Assam, from where information about the animal, not yet verified, came.

In 1966 total strength Indian rhinoceros was estimated at about 740 individuals, of which 575 in India, the rest in Nepal. The largest and most important group is in the Kaziranga National Park (450 square kilometers) in Assam, where there are 400 animals. Unfortunately, livestock grazing is allowed in Kaziranga. Formally, an insignificant area five kilometers long and two kilometers wide was allotted for this, but in fact no one monitors the grazing. Meanwhile, with limited food resources national park this poses a serious threat to rhinos and other wildlife. In addition, livestock can be carriers of disease. Cases of poaching are also not uncommon in Kaziranga.

In Nepal the most large group Indian rhinoceros, which consisted of 165 in 1966, exists in the Chitowen Reserve in the Rapti River Valley. Since Chithouse-n has exclusively importance for the fate of the species, and the recent history of this area is an exceptional example of effective conservation, it is worth telling.

Before the overthrow of the Rana rulers in 1952, the Rapti River Valley was a wild and sparsely populated area used as a hunting ground by the powerful Rana family. It was there that luxuriously furnished tiger hunts were held in honor of important guests from royal family. In the western part of this valley, in addition to many other wild animals, up to 800 Indian rhinos lived.

After 1952, the landless population began to move into the valley; many thousands of people from the mountainous regions moved there.

A few years later, settlers began to invade the forests, and the rhinoceros was forced out of its main habitats into the swampy jungle south of the Rapti River and on the islands of the Narayani River.

In 1958, the IUCN received information that poachers, operating for several years in the Rapti Valley, had destroyed a huge number of rhinos. In response, the Commission on Rare and Endangered Species sent one of its members, E.P. Gee, to Nepal to investigate the situation and make proposals for the protection of the species.

Ji, who arrived in the valley in early 1959, found that the number of rhinoceroses had dropped to 300. By 1961, it had dropped to about 165. The results of the survey and recommendations for improvement were presented by Gee in the Report on the Survey of the Rhino Area of ​​Nepal. , March and April 1959" prepared for the Commission.

In 1963, after a strong protest was made to the Nepalese government by the Forest Department, an investigation team was appointed to clarify the situation in the Rapti Valley and a special commission was created.

By 1965, when the commission completed its work, 22,000 inhabitants were evicted from the forest zone, including 4,000 from the territory of the reserve itself. The entire area of ​​the reserve and the proposed national park is now free from settlements, poachers are strictly supervised, and the prospects for the protection of the rhinoceros have improved immeasurably.

It is difficult to overestimate the importance of all measures aimed at the conservation of the Indian rhinoceros. The timely and active intervention of the Nepalese government can serve as an excellent example for other countries of what can be done with vigorous and decisive action to protect an animal species in distress.

(D.Fischer, N.Simon, D.Vincent "Red Book", M., 1976)

The Indian rhinoceros belongs to the rhino family and forms a species that lives in Central Asia. The animal is very large and second in size only to Indian elephant. Its habitat is savannah and bushland. You can meet representatives of the species in eastern regions Pakistan, in the north-eastern regions of India, in the south of Nepal and in the north of Bangladesh.

The animal lives in reserves. In India, the state of Assam has the largest population, which has more than 1,500 individuals. AT reserved park Chitwan in Nepal lives about 600 heads. In Pakistan, there are 300 individuals. In total, a little more than 2.5 thousand rhinos live in Asia today. This number remains stable and even gradually increases.

The beast is powerful and large. The height at the withers reaches 1.8 meters. The usual weight for males is 2.2 tons, but individuals weighing 2.5 and even 2.8 tons come across. Females are smaller than the representatives of the stronger sex. Their weight does not exceed 1.6 tons. Other characteristic differences no between sexes. There is only one horn on the muzzle. Its length ranges from 20 to 60 cm. With a small size, it does not look like a horn, but like a large bump located on the nose. There are 3 toes on the feet. The eyes are small, their expression is sleepy.

The skin has a pinkish-gray tint. It consists of large folds and reminds its appearance shell that covers the body. The effect is enhanced by the bumps that cover the skin. Wool is absent, only on the tail there is a small tassel. In general, the beast makes an awkward impression. At the same time, he can run at a speed of 50 km / h and swim well, unlike his African counterparts. They don't know how to swim at all. Vision is poor, but hearing and smell are well developed.

Reproduction and lifespan

Representatives of the species breed throughout the year. Females become sexually mature at 4 years old. And males usually mature by 8 years. In this matter, nature has acted very cleverly. If young males matured earlier, they still could not mate with females, since more mature and stronger representatives of the species would not allow them to. And at the age of 8, the male turns into a mighty beast, and can claim the right to continue his race. In battles with more mature opponents, he already emerges victorious, since youth always wins.

Pregnancy lasts 16 months. One large cub is born. Its weight reaches 40 kg. Milk feeding lasts about 2 years. The baby lives with the mother until the age of 3, until she becomes pregnant again. After that, she herself drives away her grown cub. Males, as a rule, go as far as possible, and females remain close to their mother. Sometimes they unite in small groups and raise young animals together. In the wild, the Indian rhinoceros lives for about 40 years. In zoos, the animal lives up to 60-65 years. But in any case, life in freedom is much better.

Behavior and nutrition

The diet consists of young low-growing grass, reed shoots, aquatic plants, elephant grass. The upper lip of the beast is keratinized and has a sharp edge. Therefore, the plant is easily cut and eaten. The animal is active in the morning and evening. During the day it rests in puddles and mud pits. At this time, birds settle on his back and peck out ticks from thick skin. Water among representatives of the species is considered a common territory, but each rhinoceros has its own land allotment. The beast marks it with its feces. The uninvited guest is escorted out. If he does not leave in an amicable way, then the duel begins. Therefore, the bodies of males are always covered with scars.

In the wild, the beast has no enemies. He is so strong and powerful that even a tiger bypasses him. But man at all times mercilessly destroyed the poor animal. First, the Indian rhinoceros caused disproportionate damage to crops. Naturally, the owners of the fields did not like this. Even today, when the animal lives in fenced reserves, it can break the fence and enter the fields. And in the old days wildlife perfectly coexisted with agricultural land.

Secondly, there is a belief about the healing and magical properties of the rhinoceros horn. Therefore, the animal was mercilessly shot at all times, and the horns on the black market were extremely expensive. In the 21st century, prices have become even higher as the number of horns has dropped dramatically. Therefore, poachers penetrate even into nature reserves and kill animals.

In response to this, the state introduced very cruel laws. Reserve employees have the right to shoot at all strangers who find themselves in a fenced area. First they shoot, and only then they figure out who it is and what it needs. As a result of all these preventive measures, the population is now at a stable level.

The Latin specific name of the Indian rhinoceros is translated as "one-horned rhinoceros". This species is also known as the armored rhinoceros. In Asia, the Indian rhinoceros is the second largest animal after the elephant, and among other Asian rhino species, it is the largest.

The Indian rhinoceros is a huge animal, the mass of which sometimes reaches 2.5 tons and more. The height of males is about 2 m. Females are slightly smaller in size. The length of the horn is on average about 25 cm, sometimes reaching 60 cm. In females, it is barely noticeable and resembles a bump on the nose. The skin of the Indian rhinoceros is naked, gray color with a pinkish tinge, folds, it is divided into large sections that hang down like a shell. For this reason, the species was given the name "shell". The color of the skin of a rhinoceros is usually poorly distinguishable, since the animal is almost always covered with a layer of mud in which it rolls. There are small brushes on the tail and ears. Paws are three-toed. On the shoulders there is a deep fold, which is bent back. The eyes are small. The upper lip is slightly curved down. On the lower jaw are strong incisors, with which the rhinoceros is able to inflict deep wounds.

The Indian rhinoceros, a powerful and majestic animal, gives the impression of a clumsy heavyweight, however, it is deceptive. This animal is endowed with excellent reaction and mobility. In danger or for self-defense, the Indian rhinoceros is capable of speeds up to 40 km / h. He also has a well-developed sense of smell and hearing. The Indian rhinoceros can smell predators or people hundreds of meters away. Only vision, like other species of rhinos, is poorly developed in him.

The Indian rhinoceros is a herbivore whose diet includes aquatic plants, young shoots of reed and elephant grass. He tears off food with his keratinized upper lip. Grazing occurs in the morning or in the evening, when it becomes cool, the rhinos wait out the heat in small lakes and puddles that are filled with liquid mud. Rhinos also look for their food in water bodies, which is why they are common only in wet, swampy areas.

A couple of centuries ago, the Indian rhinoceros was distributed throughout the south and southeast of Asia, in the south of China, in the east of Iran. But hunting is not his people, destruction natural environment Habitat and competition for food with livestock have led to a sharp decline in the Indian rhinoceros population in most of these regions. The species practically ceased to be found outside the reserves after the European colonization of Asia and the appearance of hunters armed with firearms. In addition, the population Asian countries during this period continued to grow, and the area of ​​the jungle was reduced.

AT given time the habitat of the Indian rhino includes southern Pakistan (Sindh province), eastern India and Nepal, a small population lives in northern Bangladesh. At the same time, rhinos live in strictly protected areas. The largest population is located in the Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam, where about 1600 individuals are kept, that is, 2/3 of total heads in the world. Another famous nature reserve- This is Chitwan Park (Nepal), up to 600 individuals live there. The Lal Suhantra reserve (Pakistan) has the third largest population with 300 rhinos. In total, there are about 2500 Indian rhinos, the population is gradually increasing in size.

The Indian rhinoceros has been given the status of vulnerable species in the International Red Book. But compared to the Sumatran and Javan rhinoceros, it is recognized as a safe species.

Common species of Indian rhinoceros

The closest relative species to the Indian rhinoceros is the Javan rhinoceros, which also belongs to the genus Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros).

The body length reaches 3 m, the height is about 1.7 m. The horn is one, up to 20 cm long.

A rare species, the population size does not exceed 60 individuals. Attempts to keep the Javan rhinoceros in captivity have been unsuccessful.

Male Indian rhinos are larger than females. Besides, single horn in females it is less pronounced.

Rhinos prefer to lead a solitary lifestyle. Each animal occupies an individual area of ​​up to 4000 m2. On its territory there are dense thickets of elephant grass, a puddle, a small lake or the shore of a large reservoir. Males mark the area with heaps of manure.

In the habitats of the species, thickets of elephant grass are crossed by numerous rhinoceros trails, both public, which lead to mud baths, and "private", which are protected by the owner.

Indian rhinos are excellent swimmers and are able to swim across even wide rivers.

The voice of the Indian rhinoceros is inexpressive. If the animal is disturbed, it emits a kind of snoring. The female grunts to call the cubs, and during the mating season she makes a special whistle. Grunts are also emitted by grazing rhinos. In case of injury or danger, Indian rhinos begin to roar loudly.

Rhinos are very aggressive in nature. An irritated rhinoceros is able to pounce even on an elephant, and it is almost impossible to escape from it. Such attacks can be provoked by nothing, therefore it is not recommended to approach Indian rhinos. During the attack, the rhinoceros does not use its horn, but fights with the incisors of the lower jaw and inflicts deep secant blows with them.

Indian rhino females reach puberty at the age of 3-4 years, males - at 7-9 years.

The rut of the Indian rhinoceros occurs every 1.5 months. During this period, the female pursues the male. Pregnancy lasts 16-17 months, after which one baby weighing up to 65 kg is born, with a pink skin with folds and outgrowths, but without a horn.

The life expectancy of the Indian rhinoceros in captivity reaches 70 years, in vivo she is much smaller.

Predators do not hunt Indian rhinos. Only tigers can attack rhino cubs. And in a fight with an adult rhinoceros, they have no chance of winning. Even Indian elephant this species is not afraid, but boldly rushes at him and forces him to leave.

• The permanent neighbors of the Indian rhinoceros are birds, for example, herons, starlings, lanes,. They catch insects that are scared away by the rhinoceros, or peck on ticks on its skin.
• The Indian rhinoceros was the first rhinoceros to be seen by Europeans. The first known image of this animal was created by Dürer. The artist created his engraving "Rhinoceros" without seeing the beast, so it looks a little strange, as if "chained" in iron armor. This Indian rhinoceros was brought to Lisbon in 1513 from India by the Raja of Cambay as a gift to the Portuguese king Manuel I. It was later put on public display and sent as a gift to the Pope. But during transportation, the ship, along with the rhinoceros, sank during a storm.
• Rhino hunting was a popular pastime among Indian feudal lords. Miniatures of the 16th-17th centuries depict the padishahs of the Mughal dynasty, who hunt rhinos on elephants.
• The main threat to the Indian rhinoceros population has become poaching, which is associated with legends about miraculous power his horns. The inhabitants of Asia endowed it with the properties of an aphrodisiac and a remedy for poisons. Therefore, the price of horns on the black market is very high, and with the help of illegal hunting, the poor people of Asia seek to get rich. In this regard, in India in the 70-80s of the last century, strict laws for the protection of Indian rhinos.

If you translate the name of the Indian rhinoceros from Latin, it will sound like "one-horned rhinoceros." Sometimes representatives of this species are also called armored rhinos. On the territory of Asia, you can find only one species that will surpass the Indian rhinoceros in its dimensions. This is an elephant. It is this species that is the largest in comparison with other species of rhinoceros living 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, on the other hand, have slightly smaller dimensions. The horn of representatives of this species can reach a length of approximately 25 cm. But in some individuals it can be up to 60 cm. But such a horn can only be seen in males. In females, it is very small and looks more like a bump.

These animals do not have hair. They have pinkish gray skin. Its surface is divided into regions by folds. Therefore, it looks like a shell. That is why one of the names of the species is “armored rhinoceros”. It is rather difficult to determine what color the surface of the skin of an animal has. Vedas, they very often like to wallow in the mud, after which it remains on them with a whole layer.

There are small brushes on the ears, as well as on the tail of the animal. They have 3 toes on their paws. There is a deep fold on the shoulders of the rhinoceros. They have small eyes. The upper lip is curved downward. And on the lower jaw there are very powerful incisors, which often serve as a weapon for the rhinoceros.

These animals are very strong and large. But they look like clumsy heavyweight wrestlers. This outward appearance is deceptive. In fact, rhinos are characterized by a quick reaction, they are quite mobile. If danger is approaching, the Indian rhinoceros 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 rhinoceros will understand that there is predatory beast or a person. But their eyesight is quite weak.

Food

Where does it live

A few centuries ago, representatives of this mono species could be found almost everywhere in southern Asia and China. They also lived in the eastern part of Iran. But human activity has had a significant impact on the number and habitat. They were hunted a lot, the habitual habitat was destroyed. In almost all these regions, the number of rhinos has decreased significantly. After colonization by Europe, Indian rhinos remained only in reserves. The population was also affected a large number of hunters who used firearms. In addition, the territory of the jungle was constantly decreasing as a result of the intensive growth in the population of Asia.

Today representatives of this species live in the southern part of Pakistan. They can also be seen in eastern India and Nepal. A number of animals live in the north of Bangladesh. The territories where rhinos live are very strictly protected today. In total, there are not so 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 is approximately 2/3 of all representatives of the species in the world. About 600 individuals live in Nepal in Chitwan Park. About 300 rhinos can also be seen in one of the parks in Pakistan. To date, researchers claim that about 2.5 thousand Indian rhinos live in the world. Their number is growing.

In the Red Book, this species is listed as vulnerable. But the Sumatran as well as the Javanese species are in a more distressed position.

The closest species is the Javan rhinoceros, which also belongs to the Indian genus. Their body length reaches approximately 3 m, they grow up to 1.6 m in height. They have 1 horn, which grows up to 20 cm. This species is very rare. In total there are about 60 representatives. They cannot be kept in captivity.

Sex 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. In this area, elephant grass will definitely grow, 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 trampled by rhinos. Among them there are common ones, along which animals make their way to the puddles. But there are also personal paths that the rhinoceros guards from others.

These animals, although they have a huge weight, are excellent swimmers. They can swim across a wide river or lake.

They do not make loud shrill sounds. If you disturb an Indian rhinoceros, you can hear a sound similar to snoring. The female covenant her offspring grunting. And when it goes mating season, its sound is like a whistle. Rhinos can also grunt while searching for food. But if one of them is injured or feels a special danger, they emit a loud roar.

Rhinos are usually very aggressive. If the individual is annoyed, then it can rush to the elephant. They can even attack for no apparent reason, so you should not approach these animals.

When the Indian rhinoceros attacks, it does not use its horn, but its powerful incisors. In this way they inflict very deep wounds.

reproduction

In captivity, animals live up to 70 years, and in nature usually less.

Enemies in nature

Predatory animals do not attack them. Sometimes there are attacks of tigers, 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.

1. Birds usually live next to rhinos. These are herons, and bee-eaters, and starlings. They prey on insects that the rhinoceros makes fly. Birds also feed on insects that live on the animal's skin.
2. It was this species that was the first of all the types of rhinos that people from Europe saw. For the first time among them, this animal was depicted by Dürer. It was an engraving called Rhinoceros. The artist created this work without seeing the animal. The rhino looked a bit wrong here. And in 1513 the animal was brought to Lisbon. It was a gift from the Raja to the King of Portugal. Then it was Manuel I. The animal was put on display as a curiosity for the people, after which it was sent to the Pope. It was supposed to be a gift, but it never made it to its destination. The ship sank in a storm.
3. Indian feudal lords amused themselves by hunting rhinos. This can be judged by the miniatures that have remained since the 16th century. On them, representatives of the Mughal dynasty hunt these animals, sitting on elephants.
4. Most of the damage to this species was caused by the hunting of the rhinoceros. 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, on the black market, the horn of this animal is very expensive. It is usually sold by poor Asians who want to get rich this way. But in India there are many laws that strictly protect these animals from poachers.

Video: Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)