New Delhi: The Indian rhinoceros, as is evident from the name, can be found only in our country. It is also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros and is the second-largest extant species of rhinoceros. These animals have a single horn on their snout whose maximum length can be 22.5 inches. Bumps like warts cover their upper legs and shoulders and they are mostly hairless apart from the eyelashes, ear fringes and tail brush. But sadly, these animals are facing a massive threat to their survival. In this article, we will learn about the threats they are facing.
Where are they found now?
Indian rhinos that used to range across the entire northern part of the Indian subcontinent can now be found in pockets. It is mostly found in Assam’s Kaziranga National Park, and there are some in the Orang National Park, the Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and the Manas National Park. It can also be found in West Bengal’s Jaldapara National Park and the Gorumara National Park.
What threats are the animals facing?
Wiping out habitats
Loss of the habitat is a massive reason why the Indian rhino population is facing a threat. Activities of humans coupled with climate change have increased the occurrence of floods leading to numerous deaths and have limited their areas which are shrinking.
The habitat quality has also decreased in some areas, due to severe invasion by alien plants into grasslands affecting some populations. Also, grasslands and wetland habitats have been greatly reduced due to the encroachment of woodland and silting up of swampy wetlands along with domestic livestock grazing. Worryingly, more than 70 per cent of the animals are found in the Kaziranga National Park and any catastrophic event would have a devastating impact.
The danger of poaching
In the late 19th and 20th centuries, sport hunting was a common thing which declined the population of Indian rhinoceros as they were hunted in large numbers. While hunting has been banned, poaching has emerged as a massive threat. Infact, 100 rhinos were poached in India in a recent timeframe between 2013 and 2018. The number was higher in the earlier decades, especially from 1980 to 1993 when around 700 rhinos were killed due to poaching.
It is also known as the greater one-horned rhinoceros and is the second largest extant species of rhinoceros. Sadly, these animals are facing a massive threat to their survival. knowledge Knowledge News, Photos and Videos on General Knowledge
