Did you know the rhinoceros, the large hoofed mammal is distantly related to horse, and with the exception of the elephant, it is the heaviest of the land mammals. It is characterized by a prominent nasal lorn or horn five species of Rhinoceros exist today. The Indian Rhino is known as Rhinoceros unicornis because of its single horn.

The horns of the rhinoceros are unique in that they are not bony like those of cattles and antelopes, but are composed of masses of horny fibers bound firmly together. The horns grow throughout life and, it lost, is reproduced. The horn is used as a weapon against enemies such as large carnivores and man.

The rhinos have poor eyesight, while their sense of smell and healing is very sharp. The skin of the great one-horned rhinoceros or the great Indian rhinoceros is blackish grey and devoid of hair except on the tail and ears. One characteristic difference between the male and female of this species is the horns. The females have a sharper and longer media horn, while the males have a blunt and short horn.

Rhino is generally a solitary animal, occasionally found in groups. It prefers swamps and grass lands, but is also found in the jungles along low hills. Usually the Indian rhino feeds on swamp grasses and herbs. In regions where good feeding areas are far from water they visit watering places at internals of four to six days. They often bathe in pools and wallow in mud which helps protect their skin from flies while they cool off.

This animal is not fiece by nature unless it is a female with its calf. The tiger generally tries to avoid the rhino and so one can see deer and buffalo often graze in the company of the rhino, evidently for protection.

Rhinos are not very social animal. The only strong social bond is the mother calf bond. It may last up to two years. The calf is deserted by the mother before she gives birth to the next offspring. The Indian rhino breeds all the year rained. The gestation period is 18 to 19 months at the end of which one calf is born. the calf weighs 60-70 kg. A female rhino can give birth to its first calf at the age of two and half years.

The Indian rhino is found in Khaziranga and Manas in Assam and Jaldapara in West Bengal. Shrinking habitat, poaching for borns and predation of the young by carnivore are the causes for decline in their population.