The Indian Rhinoceros or the Great One-horned Rhinoceros or the Asian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a large mammal primarily found in north-eastern India and Nepal. It is confined to the tall grasslands and forests in the foothills of the Himalayas. The Indian Rhinoceros once ranged throughout the entire stretch of the Indo-Gangetic Plain but excessive hunting reduced their natural habitat drastically. Today, about 3,000 Indian Rhinos live in the wild, 1,800 of which are found in India's Assam alone. In 2008, more than 400 Indian Rhinos were sighted in Nepal's Chitwan National Park. The Indian Rhinoceros can run at speeds of up to 40 km/h (25 mph) for short periods of time and is also an excellent swimmer. It has excellent senses of hearing and smell, but relatively poor eyesight.
© Through My Lens - Dennis W. Donohue
