Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros

The Indian Rhinoceros is the undisputed icon of Kaziranga National Park and the embodiment of Assam's conservation heritage. Weighing up to 2,500 kg and standing nearly 2 meters at the shoulder, this is a creature of extraordinary presence. Its single horn, composed of compressed keratin rather than bone, can grow to 25 cm and has unfortunately been the primary driver of poaching pressure.

Unlike its African relatives, the Indian Rhino is primarily solitary, occupying well-defined territories in the tall elephant grass and swampy areas that characterize the Brahmaputra floodplain. They are excellent swimmers and can often be observed crossing rivers and wallowing in lakes, behaviors that are essential for thermoregulation and parasite control.

The Indian One-horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is the largest of Asia’s rhinoceros species and one of the most iconic animals on the planet. Clad in what appears to be armored plating, with deep folds of skin that give it a prehistoric, almost mechanical appearance, this magnificent creature is inextricably linked to the floodplain grasslands and riverine forests of the Brahmaputra Valley in Assam.

Once ranging across the entire Indo-Gangetic plain from Pakistan to the Myanmar border, the species was reduced to fewer than 200 individuals by the early twentieth century. The remarkable recovery to over 3,700 animals today, primarily concentrated in Kaziranga National Park, represents one of the greatest conservation success stories in wildlife history and a testament to decades of dedicated protection efforts.

Habitat & Where to Find

Inhabits the alluvial floodplain grasslands and riverine forests of the Brahmaputra and Ganges valleys. Kaziranga's mosaic of tall elephant grass (up to 5 meters), short grasslands, wetlands, and semi-evergreen forest provides ideal habitat. The annual monsoon floods, which inundate up to two-thirds of Kaziranga, are essential for maintaining the grassland ecosystem that sustains the rhino population.

Kaziranga National Park (Assam): The premier location, with the highest concentration globally. The Central Range (Kohora) and Western Range (Bagori) offer the most reliable sightings. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary (Assam): Just 50 km from Guwahati, this small reserve has the world's highest rhino density. Orang National Park (Assam): A smaller, quieter alternative to Kaziranga. Manas National Park (Assam): Rhinos translocated from Kaziranga as part of the Indian Rhino Vision 2020 program.

Assam Kaziranga National Park

Field Notes

Identification Tips

Unmistakable among Indian mammals. The skin hangs in heavy folds at the shoulder, neck, and rump, creating the appearance of armored plates. The skin is studded with raised bumps (tubercles) that reinforce the armored appearance. Color ranges from grey to brown, though individuals are often coated in mud from wallowing. The single horn is present in both sexes but is more prominent in males.

In the field, listen for loud vocalizations: snorting when alarmed, a honking contact call, and a high-pitched shriek during aggressive encounters. Dung middens (communal defecation sites) and muddy wallow marks on trees are reliable signs of rhino presence.

Behavior Notes

Primarily solitary, though mothers with calves and loose aggregations at wallows are common. Most active during early morning and late afternoon, spending the midday hours wallowing in lakes and rivers. Rhinos use communal dung middens to communicate territory and reproductive status. Despite their bulk, they can charge at speeds up to 55 km/h over short distances.

Rhino-elephant interactions in Kaziranga are a common and fascinating spectacle. The two megaherbivores generally maintain a respectful distance, but confrontations at favored grazing areas provide dramatic wildlife theater. During the monsoon flood season, rhinos and other wildlife move to the hills on the southern edge of the park, and their return to the floodplain as waters recede is one of the great animal movements of South Asia.

In the Field

Ethical Guidelines

Always remain on designated trails and in your vehicle during jeep safaris. Do not approach on foot. Maintain a minimum distance of 20 meters, though most sightings in Kaziranga are at much closer range from elephant-back or vehicle. Never use flash photography. Keep voices low. If a rhino raises its head and points its ears toward you, the vehicle should back away slowly as this indicates alert behavior that may precede a charge.

Conservation

Listed as Vulnerable on the IUCN Red List, but with a population trend that is increasing. The species' recovery from fewer than 200 in the early 1900s to approximately 3,700 today is one of conservation's greatest success stories. Kaziranga alone hosts approximately 2,600 individuals, more than two-thirds of the world population. Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary has the highest density of rhinos anywhere in the world.

Threats include poaching for horn (which persists despite intensive protection), habitat loss due to encroachment, and the increasing frequency of severe floods linked to climate change. The Assam government and organizations like the International Rhino Foundation maintain robust anti-poaching operations, and community-based conservation around park buffers has been increasingly successful.

See Them in the Wild

Kaziranga Escapade

4 Days

Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros

Habitat & Where to Find

Field Notes

Identification Tips

Behavior Notes

In the Field

Ethical Guidelines

Conservation

See Them in the Wild

Kaziranga Escapade

Wild Assam

Conservation Heroes

Jadav Payeng

Moirangthem Loiya Ngamba

Dr Purnima Devi and the Hargila Army