Citizen Blog » Rhishja Larson

Extinction of Vietnamese Javan Rhino Confirmed

Rhishja Larson — Wed, 23 Nov 2011 12:39:52 +0000

Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong

A tragic loss for the wildlife community, our planet, and future generations: The extinction of the Javan rhino subspecies, Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus, has been confirmed by WWF and the International Rhino Foundation (IRF).

DNA match

The horrible story began last year, on April 29th, when the body of a female Javan rhino was found in Cat Tien National Park, Vietnam – the last location of Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus.

She had been shot and her horn was removed.

Dung samples collected during a 2009/2010 WWF survey were subsequently analyzed at Queen’s University, Canada, and it was determined that they belonged to just one rhino.

Unfortunately, the samples matched the dead rhino.

Traditional medicine trade

According to WWF’s new report “Extinction of the Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus)”, Vietnam’s wildlife populations are being decimated by the “increasing demand for wildlife in the traditional medicine trade” in Vietnam, China, and other Asian countries.

WWF noted that Vietnam’s “uncontrolled illegal wildlife trade” and “inadequate protection” of habitat led to the extinction of the country’s rhinos.

Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong

Habitat loss

Urban development, conversion to agricultural land, park encroachment by settlers, and explosive human population growth proved to be ongoing issues that were never adequately addressed. By 2010, the range of the Javan rhino in Vietnam decreased to just 6,500ha from 75,000ha in 1988.

Park encroachment by settlers coupled with explosive human population growth proved to be ongoing, unaddressed issues.

Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong

Javan rhino extinction a ‘conservation failure’

Although once thought to be extinct, Vietnam’s Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus was rediscovered in 1988.

The small population was thought to consist of 10 – 15 rhinos. Sufficient habitat was available and it was hoped that these rhinos would make a recovery similar to the Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum) and the greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) – both of which were on the brink of extinction 100 years ago.

However, by 2006, probably only three Javan rhinos remained in Vietnam. Despite years of valid recommendations from conservation groups, implementation and law enforcement were both lacking in Cat Tien National Park.

WWF’s report called the Javan rhino’s extinction in Vietnam “a major conservation failure”.

Today, only one subspecies of Javan rhino remains: Fewer than 50 Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus are still surviving inside Indonesia’s Ujung Kulon National Park.

Photo © WWF-Greater Mekong:
Skeleton of the world’s last Vietnamese Javan rhino,
Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus.

Source: Brook, S., Van Coeverden de Groot, P., Mahood, S. “Extinction of the Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus).” 2011. WWF-Vietnam.

Photos provided by & © WWF-Greater Mekong

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Celebrate Rhinos on World Rhino Day!

Rhishja Larson — Thu, 18 Aug 2011 17:41:35 +0000

Photo: Clockwise, from upper left: Greater one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino, black rhino, white rhino.

If you love rhinos, you’ll be excited to know that World Rhino Day is almost here!

September 22^nd marks the Second Annual World Rhino Day – a tradition established last year by WWF as an opportunity for people all over the world to take a stand against rhino poaching and the illegal trade in rhino horn.

US-based Saving Rhinos LLC (that’s me) and Zimbabwe-based Chishakwe Ranch are working together to continue the World Rhino Day tradition in 2011.

Co-organizer Lisa-Jane Campbell of Chishakwe Ranch noted on the Saving Species blog that one of the main aims of this year’s World Rhino Day is to debunk the myths that fuel the demand for horn and the killing of rhinos.

“Rhino horn has no medicinal value, despite the long held belief to the contrary. Rhino are dying for nobody’s benefit – except that of the criminals involved in the poaching rings.”

Cause-related organizations, NGOs, zoos, and members of the public are encouraged to celebrate these magnificent pachyderms with both offline and online activities.

The total population of all five rhino species is now estimated to be just over 28,000. Javan rhinos are the least numerous, with only 48 individuals surviving.

International celebration

Looking for inspiration? Check out what is happening around the world so far:

USA: Fossil Rim Wildlife Center is having a fundraising party and art contest (more to follow on this!)
Nepal: PARC/Nepal is putting up World Rhino Day posters and engaging in public awareness activities with local communities in the Chitwan National Park Buffer Zone.
Zimbabwe: Chishakwe Ranch is working directly with village schools, getting the children involved with projects, such as creating rhino posters.
Southeast Asia: TRAFFIC Southeast Asia is featuring rhinos in September, as part of their “Twelve in Trouble” online awareness campaign.
World-renowned Save the Rhino International is announcing World Rhino Day to subscribers in the September edition of their ezine, RhiNews.

A great list of fundraising suggestions are can be found at “Are you looking for a way to make a difference?” on the International Rhino Foundation website.

You can also find additional ideas for World Rhino Day on my blog and watch the video “Get Ready for World Rhino Day 2011” here.

To stay informed and share plans for the Big Day, visit the World Rhino Day 2011 page set up on Facebook®.

Learn more about rhino horn on the Citizen Blog at “Scientific Studies Find No Medicinal Value in Rhino Horn.”

Photo credits: Photo #1 (clockwise from upper left): Suman Bhattarai (PARC/Nepal); Bruce1ee [Public domain], via Wikimedia Commons; black and white rhino © iStockphoto.com. Photo #2: © iStockphoto.com

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Students in Nepal Take Rhino Conservation Awareness by the Horns!

Rhishja Larson — Thu, 11 Aug 2011 11:03:01 +0000

Rhino conservation efforts in Nepal received a big boost in awareness, thanks to the formation of “Eco-Clubs” in schools located in the Chitwan National Park Buffer Zone.

It was the grassroots efforts of Partnership for Rhino Conservation (PARC/Nepal) and the Chitwan National Park Buffer Zone Lothar User Committee that helped create Eco-Clubs at three different schools.

The goal of the Eco-Clubs is two-fold: 1) Creating conservation awareness at the local level, and 2) Taking a stand against illegal activities.

Suman Bhattarai, Partnership for Rhino Conservation (PARC/Nepal)

The future of conservation

The founder of PARC/Nepal, Suman Bhattarai, emphasizes the important role of children in the future of conservation.

“Children are the drivers of the future. Without a doubt, responsibility of conservation will be in their hands. If we do not empower and sensitize them on time, there will be no continuity of conservation. It is of utmost importance for this generation to continue today’s success stories, and also to develop new approaches for conservation.”

It is with children in mind that PARC/Nepal and the Chitwan NP Bufferzone Lothar User Committee approached local schools with the Eco-Club idea.

“At first, local schools were visited to collect view of students and teachers to form eco-club in their schools. During this visits, students and teachers were notified about the importance clubs. This notification helped to draw interests of schools, teachers and students to form clubs.”

The efforts paid off: Three schools in the Chitwan National Park Buffer Zone now have their own Eco-Clubs!

Eco-Club at Rastriya Secondary School, Manahari.

Phase I: Motivation

The Eco-Club formation was carried out in three phases. In the motivational first phase, students learned the basics.

What is an Eco-Club?
What are the objectives of an Eco-Club, and what does it do?
What are its working areas and key activities?
How can membership be provided to other interested students?
How does an eco-club make difference at local level?
How can the Eco-Club arrange resources for conducting activities?
What are conservation holidays and how can they be celebrated through an Eco-Club?

Eco-Club at Rastriya Lower Secondary School, Nayabasti.

Phase II: Formation

Once students had an understanding of the Eco-Club’s purpose and the opportunities it could provide, some of the club members stepped up to form the committee which would be responsible for organizing the ongoing activities and keeping the members engaged.

Eco-Club President (Rastriya Secondary School, Mahadevtar).

In addition, a teacher was nominated as the committee’s patron, while the corresponding school’s headmaster would serve in an advisory capacity.

Phase III: Responsibilities

Following the formation of the Eco-Club, the committee members immersed themselves in their new responsibilities.

The committee President, Vice President, Secretary, and Treasurer were given individual coaching in their roles by the project facilitators, while the Treasurer learned about keeping income and expenditure records.

Eco-Club Patron (Environment teacher – Rastriya Secondary School, Mahadevtar).

The committee also held brainstorming sessions to come up with innovative income-generating ideas.

Moving forward

There are currently three schools participating in the Eco-Club project:

Rastriya Secondary School, (Mahadevtar, Piple, Chitwan)
Rastriya Lower Secondary School, (Nayabasti, Piple, Chitwan)
Rastriya Secondary School, (Sunachuri, Manahari, Makawanpur)

Handing over the minutes book to Eco-Club Secretary.

To help the Eco-Clubs move forward, PARC/Nepal and the Chitwan NP Lothar User Committee committed to providing a small fund to the clubs for the first year.

Eco-Club impact

The Rastriya Lower Secondary School Eco-Club has already raised funds with a rhino conservation drama, performed by the club members. The schools also celebrated World Environment Day by holding a conservation song competition.

The Eco-Club project facilitators are Uttam Luitel, Deepa Paudel and Suman Bhattarai.

Greater one-horned rhinos in Nepal

One of the three Asian rhino species, greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) were once widespread throughout the northern floodplains and nearby foothills of the Indian sub-continent between Indo-Myanmar border in the east, and Sindh River basin, Pakistan in the west.

Nepal’s most recent rhino census found that the population of greater one-horned rhinos has increased to 534. The count was conducted in April 2011, and revealed an increase of 99 rhinos since the last count in 2008.

Chitwan National Park was found to have 503 rhinos, while 24 reside in Bardia National Park, and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve holds seven of the precious pachyderms.

Today, the remaining 2,949 (includes the new census) greater one-horned rhinos are found only in a few protected areas in northeastern India and lowland Nepal.

Unfortunately, all five species of rhinos are under threat, due to myths about the alleged medicinal properties of rhino horn.

PHOTO CREDITS:

Photos #1 – #7 courtesy & © Suman Bhattarai, Partnership for Rhino Conservation (PARC/Nepal)

Photo #8: Sumantbarooah (sumantbarooah) [CC-BY-SA-3.0 (www.creativecommons.org/licenses/by-sa/3.0) or GFDL (www.gnu.org/copyleft/fdl.html)], via Wikimedia Commons

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Meet the Species: Sumatran Rhino

Rhishja Larson — Fri, 08 Jul 2011 11:00:59 +0000

Photo credit: Yayasan Badak Indonesia, photographer Dedi Candra (courtesy of Susie Ellis, IRF)

The Sumatran rhino has suffered a 50% decline in numbers over the last 15 years. Sadly, it is now believed there are only around 200 Sumatran rhinos surviving in fragmented populations in Southeast Asia.

Like the other four rhino species, the Sumatran rhino population has been decimated because of the alleged medicinal properties of rhino horn. However, rhino horn has been scientifically tested and does not actually provide any curative benefits.

Besides being killed for their horns, the Sumatran rhinos’ habitat is being destroyed by development and agriculture. Conservation groups, such as the International Rhino Foundation and Yayasan Badak Idonesia, are working to save the increasingly rare Sumatran rhino by implementing habitat programs, strengthening anti-poaching efforts, monitoring trade of rhino horns, managing protected areas, and raising public awareness.

Historic Range of the Sumatran Rhino

Sumatran rhinos could once be found throughout the Himalayan foothils in Bhutan and north-eastern India, in southern China (Yunnan), Myanmar, Thailand, Cambodia, Lao PDR, Viet Nam and the Malay Peninsula, and on the islands of Sumatra and Borneo in Indonesia.

This species can now be found only in Indonesia and Malaysia.

The IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM has classified the Sumatran rhino as Critically Endangered since 1994.

Distinguishing Characteristics

Unlike the other four rhino species who are relatively hairless, the Sumatran rhino’s reddish brown skin is covered with coarse hair. The hair grows into longer shaggy fur in captivity, since the rhino is generally not in contact with rough vegetation as in the wild, which tends to rub the hair down.

Photo credit: Yayasan Badak Indonesia, photographer Dedi Candra (courtesy of Susie Ellis, IRF)

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest of all the rhino species, standing only 3 – 5 feet high at the shoulder. Their weight ranges from 1,300 – 2,000 pounds, and they are typically 6.5 – 9.5 feet in length.

While the other two Asian species of rhino have one horn, the Sumatran rhino has two horns. The front horn is 10″ – 31″ in length, while the second horn is quite small, often less than 3 inches long.

Sumatran rhinos have a prehensile upper lip used for grasping food and browsing. In addition to having a fondness for fruits, Sumatran rhinos eat leaves and juicy plant tips.

Like all rhinos, the Sumatran Rhino is an odd-toed ungulate, having three toes – each with a sturdy hoof-like nail. Also in common with other rhinos is a superb sense of hearing, keen sense of smell – but relatively poor eyesight.

Activity and Life Span

The Sumatran rhino can run 30 mph and make a 180-degree spin a single jump. In their natural habitat of dense tropical forests, they negotiate steep slopes, riverbanks, and mountains with ease.

Photo credit: Yayasan Badak Indonesia, photographer Dedi Candra (courtesy of Susie Ellis, IRF)

Sumatran rhinos leave tunnels in thick forest vegetation as they break through it, protected by their horns, and cartilage on the nose and head.

They visit salt-licks formed by mineral seepages, and like all rhinos, enjoy mud wallows.

This species can live 30 – 45 years in the wild, although the captive life span record is 33 years.

Scientific Name and Origin

Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
Dicerorhinus: from the Greek di, meaning “two”; cero, meaning “horn” and rhinus, meaning “nose”
sumatrensis: referring to Sumatra (with the Latin -ensis, meaning locality)

To learn more about how you can help the critically endangered Sumatran rhino, check out:

Scientific Studies Find No Medicinal Value in Rhino Horn

Rhishja Larson — Wed, 06 Jul 2011 11:32:54 +0000

Photo courtesy of Pam Krzyza

As one of the most widely recognized animals on our Planet, rhinos are unfortunately also one of the most endangered. Sought after for centuries because of the alleged healing properties of their distinctive horns, these giant herbivores are still the victims of long-standing myths.

Here, we shed some light on the misinformation that is behind the continued killing of these proud pachyderms.

Rhino horn and Traditional Chinese Medicine

For thousands of years, rhino horn has been a key ingredient in traditional Chinese medicine, which has credited rhino horn with powerful healing properties.

Some of the earliest uses of rhino horn are documented in Bernard Read’s 1931 translation of Li Shih-chen’s 1597 materia medica Pen Ts’ ao Kang Mu. According to this ancient medicinal guide, rhino horn has the potency to cure nearly every disease imaginable, from headaches to dysentery – and even possession by evil spirits.

More recently, rhino horn has been touted as treatment for cancer, appendicitis, mumps, epilepsy, and herpes.

Contrary to popular belief, rhino horn has never been prescribed as an aphrodisiac by traditional Chinese medicine practitioners.

Rhino horn in the laboratory

In an effort to educate the public about the alleged curative properties of rhino horn, various scientific studies have put rhino horn to the test.

For example, a pharmacological study conducted by researchers at Hoffmann-LaRoche was published by the World Wildlife Fund (WWF) and the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) in a 1983 issue of The Environmentalist.

This critical study “found no evidence that rhino horn has any medicinal effect as an antipyretic and would be ineffective in reducing fever, a common usage in much of Asia.”

Testing further confirmed that “rhino horn, like fingernails, is made of agglutinated hair” and “has no analgesic, anti-inflammatory, anti-spasmolytic nor diuretic properties” and “no bactericidal effect could be found against suppuration and intestinal bacteria.”

Dr. Raj Amin at the Zoological Society of London also put rhino horn through rigorous scientific testing. The tests confirmed that rhino horn contains no medical properties.

Check out this video of Dr. Amin discussing the results of his studies at http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/episodes/rhinoceros/rhino-horn-use-fact-vs-fiction/1178/

Both Dr. Arne Schiotz of WWF and Dr. Raj Amin of ZSL compared the effects of rhino horn to “chewing one’s own fingernails” – in other words, rhino horn has no curative effects.

In addition, rhino horn was tested by scientists at the Chinese University of Hong Kong. The findings, published in the report Ethnopharmacology of Rhinoceros Horn. I. Antipyretic Effects of Rhinoceros Horn and Other Animal Horns, failed to support the alleged efficacy of rhino horn as a useful medicine.

To conduct the tests, fever was induced in rats by injecting them with turpentine oil. Then the rats were injected with a dosage of rhino horn extract equal to 100 times the prescribed amount for human patients.

Although the rats’ rectal temperatures lowered after the injection for an hour and a half, the dosage levels comparable to what would be prescribed to a human patient had no fever-reducing effect.

Photo courtesy of Suman Bhattarai

Educating consumers about rhino horn

Despite the fact that scientific analysis has confirmed rhino horn has no curative properties, far too many people still believe that rhino horn is a remedy.

And although the use of rhino horn is prohibited by international law, the rhino killing epidemic that has gripped several countries across Africa and Asia indicate that the use of rhino horn is continuing.

Perhaps rhino horn consumers do not have access to accurate information, such as the results of scientific studies. Or perhaps they do not realize their beliefs are causing an ancient species to disappear from our Earth.

In either case, we must help educate consumers of rhino horn that it has no medicinal value or curative properties. We must also explain to consumers that these myths about rhino horn are already responsible for the regional extinction of certain subspecies of rhino across multiple countries and continents.

By sharing accurate knowledge, we can help protect rhinos from being killed for their horns, and prevent this magnificent mammal from being plundered to extinction.

Meet the Species: White Rhino

Rhishja Larson — Tue, 07 Jun 2011 11:37:01 +0000

Photo courtesy of Kevin Bewick

White rhinos (Ceratotherium simum) are currently the most numerous of the five species of rhino, and are divided into two distinct subspecies: The Southern white rhino and the Northern white rhino.

The Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) is the least endangered of the living rhino species, with a population of about 17,500. This species is classified as Near Threatened by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species®.

In stark contrast, the Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni) numbers just eight known individuals. The Northern white rhino is classified as Critically Endangered and is now believed to be extinct in the wild.

Southern white rhino

The Southern white rhino was once feared extinct, due to poaching and over-hunting, until 1895, when a small population of less than 100 individuals was discovered in South Africa. Thanks to a century of conservation efforts, researchers and concerned individuals (especially in South Africa) the Southern white rhino has rebounded.

Nearly all Southern white rhinos are located in South Africa. The wildlife trade monitoring network TRAFFIC also reports that small populations are found in Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Swaziland, and Zimbabwe. Mozambique may have just nine white rhinos, and Zambia and DR Congo are believed to have no more than four or so.

Photo courtesy of Pam Krzyza

During 2009 and 2010, Uganda’s white rhino re-introduction program at Ziwa Rhino Sanctuary welcomed three calves into the country after 28 years of regional extinction. These exciting additions raised Uganda’s white rhino population to nine.

Sadly, the Southern white rhino is likely extinct in Sudan, and is regionally extinct in the Central African Republic and Chad.

Northern white rhino

Before being driven to extinction by the illegal rhino horn trade, Northern white rhinos were found in north-eastern DR Congo, southern Chad, south-western Sudan, the eastern part of Central African Republic, and north-western Uganda.

The last known sighting of this species was in southern Sudan; however, these reports remained unconfirmed. In July 2008, the International Rhino Foundation noted that the Northern white rhino was “thought to have been extirpated from their last known” location in the DR Congo.

But in 2009, new hope was given to the Northern white rhino.

New hope: The ‘Fab Four’

In December 2009, four of the world’s only known eight Northern white rhinos arrived in Kenya

to begin new lives at Ol Pejeta Conservancy – the last hope to save this critically endangered rhino subspecies.

Photo: Fauna & Flora International/Northern White Rhino Last Chance

Affectionately dubbed the “Fab Four”, Sudan, Suni, Najin and Fatu landed safely in Kenya after being flown from ZOO Dvur Kralove to their new home. The return of the rhinos to Africa is considered the last chance at preserving the genetic material of the Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni), a rhino subspecies poached to extinction in the wild.

Rhino experts were confident that the change to the rhinos’ natural environment at Ol Pejeta Conservancy would induce hormonal changes to make the females Najin and Fatu receptive to breeding. Producing hybrid calves with the more numerous Southern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum simum) is acknowledged as one of the best chances at saving NWR genes. Ongoing AI efforts are also in reportedly in progress.

The risk of moving the Fab Four to Kenya paid off: In January 2011, two matings were confirmed for the Northern white rhinos.

One mating was between two of the Northern white rhinos, Fatu and Suni. The other was between the oldest Northern white rhino Sudan, and Aramiet, a female Southern white rhino.

Photo: Fauna & Flora International/Northern White Rhino Last Chance

Distinguishing Characteristics

The white rhino has two horns comprised of compressed keratin – basically hair and fingernail material. Although sought after for use in Traditional Chinese Medicine, rhino horn has been thoroughly analyzed and actually contains no curative properties.

The Northern white rhino’s front horn is generally 37″ – 40″ long, while the Southern white rhino’s can reach 79″. The rear horn of both subspecies is smaller, reaching 22″ in length.

Southern white rhinos are larger and have more “wrinkles” around the eye than Northern white rhinos. In addition, the Northern white rhino has a straighter dorsal profile than the Southern white rhino.

The white rhino is actually not white in color; the name is thought to be a result of mistaking the Afrikaans word “weit” (meaning “wide”) for “white.” The White Rhino is grey, although he or she often looks brown due to being covered in mud after wallowing.

The white rhino is most readily identified by its square lip, and is also known as the Square-Lipped Rhinoceros. The square lip is used for grazing on grasses. While looking at the rhino’s head, you will see eyelashes and a little bit of hair on the ears. The other area where the white rhino has hair is the tip of the tail.

Like all rhinos, the white rhino is an odd-toed ungulate, having three toes – each with a sturdy hoof-like nail. Also in common with other rhinos is a superb sense of hearing, keen sense of smell – but relatively poor eyesight.

Size of the White Rhino

The white rhino, along with the roughly equal-sized Indian Rhino, is the largest species of land mammal after the elephant.

The weight of both white rhino subspecies ranges from 4,000 – 6,000 pounds, and stands from 5 – 6 feet high at the shoulder. End-to-end, the white rhino can be 12.5 – 15 feet in length.

Activity

Despite their large size, the white rhino can run 30 mph for short distances.

White rhinos eat and drink both during the day and at night, spending the hotter part of the day sleeping in the shade or enjoying a good wallow.

Life span

White rhinos can live up to 50 years.

Scientific Name and Origin

Ceratotherium simum

Ceratotherium: from the Greek cerato, meaning “horn” and therium, meaning “wild beast”

simum: from the Greek simus, meaning “flat nosed”

To learn more, check out:

Meet the Species: Greater One-Horned (Indian) Rhino

Rhishja Larson — Mon, 23 May 2011 00:28:15 +0000

The greater one-horned rhino (Indian or Nepalese rhino), is the most numerous of the three Asian rhino species. These rhinos number just 2,850 and are surviving in only two countries.

Photo courtesy of Suman Bhattarai

Greater one-horned rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) were once widespread throughout the northern floodplains and nearby foothills of the Indian sub-continent between the Indo-Myanmar border in the east, and Sindh River basin, Pakistan in the west. It is also suggested that the species could once be found in southern China, Myanmar, and Indochina.

Unfortunately, this Asian rhino species was decimated after decades of demand for its single horn, a key ingredient in Traditional Chinese Medicine. They were also hunted relentlessly by royals and “big game” collectors.

By the early part of the 20^thcentury, fewer than 200 greater one-horned rhinos remained on the planet.

A conservation success story

Despite teetering at the brink of extinction, strict protection efforts by Indian and Nepalese wildlife authorities have helped make the greater one-horned rhino a conservation success story. This species is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN Red List of Threatened Species^TM.

Today, the world’s 2,850 greater one-horned rhinos can be found in only in a few protected areas in northeastern India and lowland Nepal.

Kaziranga National Park in the Indian state of Assam boasts 2,048 of the world’s greater one-horned rhinos, making it the world’s largest concentration of this species.

Although political instability caused Nepal’s rhino population to decrease to just 372 rhinos in 2005, greater one-horned rhino numbers have slowly been rising since the end of Nepal’s civil war that claimed the lives of 16,000 people.

The country is now home to approximately 435 greater one-horned rhinos, who live in the protected areas of Chitwan National Park, Bardia National Park, and Shukla Phanta Wildlife Reserve.

Nepal even enjoyed a rhino “baby boom” in 2010, and welcomed at least ten rhino calves into its national parks.

Two baby rhinos were born in Bardia National Park, while Chitwan National Park welcomed eight new rhinos into the world.

Distinguishing Characteristics

The greater one-horned rhino has one horn comprised of compressed keratin – basically hair and fingernail material. The horn is typically 8″ – 24″ in length.

Greater one-horned rhinos are easily identified by the single horn, folds of armor, and semi-prehensile upper lip. The semi-prehensile lip enables this rhino species to feed on a very wide variety of grasses, leaves, branches, aquatic plants, and fruit. Greater one-horned rhinos are hairless except for eyelashes, ear fringes, and tail tips.

Photo courtesy of Suman Bhattarai

Greater one-horned rhinos are the most aquatic of the five rhino species. They are strong swimmers and may spend 60% of their day in the water. In addition, they can dive and feed under water, and it is not uncommon to see just their snouts, eyes, and ears above the water.

Like all rhinos, the greater one-horned rhinos is an odd-toed ungulate, having three toes – each with a sturdy hoof-like nail. Also in common with other rhinos is a superb sense of hearing, keen sense of smell – but relatively poor eyesight.

Size of the Greater One-Horned Rhino

The greater one-horned rhino, along with the roughly equal-sized white rhino, is the largest species of land mammal after the elephant.

The greater one-horned rhino’s weight ranges from 4,000 – 6,000 pounds, and stands from 5.75 – 6.5 feet high at the shoulder. End-to-end, this species can be 10 – 12.5 feet in length.

Activity

The greater one-horned rhino is both fast and agile, running up to 25 mph for short distances and able to make sharp turns when necessary.

Greater one-horned rhinos are designed for life near water, such as subtropical areas near floodplains and rivers, as they may spend more than half of their day in the water.

Photo courtesy of Shankar Chaudhary

Life span

Greater one-horned rhinos can live 30 – 45 years in the wild, and the captive life span record is 47 years.

Scientific Name and Origin

There are no subspecies of the greater one-horned rhino.

Rhinoceros unicornis
Rhinoceros: from the Greek rhino, meaning “nose” and ceros, meaning “horn”
unicornis: from the Latin uni, meaning “one” and cornis, meaning “horn”

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Orphaned Rhinos Prompt Nepalese Conservationists to Consider Wildlife Rescue Center

Rhishja Larson — Wed, 27 Apr 2011 18:49:32 +0000

Photo courtesy of Suman Bhattarai

Although Nepal is a country filled with wildlife richness, orphaned and injured animals often become casualties, due to the current lack of a rescue center and veterinary care.

Tragically, two baby rhinos were separated from their mothers when the Narayani River flooded during last year’s monsoon season.

Another was orphaned when her mother was electrocuted by a fence that had been illegally set by a farmer.

Despite best efforts, many animals do not survive

Orphaned rhinos, along with other wildlife rescues, are sent to the Chitwan National Park headquarters, where the staff does their best to provide care. Sometimes, animals are transported to the small and already crowded Central Zoo in Kathmandu.

Unfortunately, this is what happened to one of the baby rhinos that was rescued from the Narayani River.

Although the tiny calf seemed fine at first, he was thought to have suffered internal injuries that could only have been diagnosed and treated by a veterinarian or other expert.

Photo: SUC/Nawalparasi, courtesy of PARC/Nepal

Rhinos could be saved with veterinary care

Nepal loses several rhinos yearly due to human-rhino conflict, which can manifest in electrocution (even though the setting of electric fences is illegal) and poisoning (also illegal). In addition, rhinos that survive attacks by poachers often die as a result of infected wounds from bullets and axes.

Orphaned calves quickly die without proper care.

Mr. Suman Bhattarai, conservationist and founder of Partnership for Rhino Conservation (PARC) Nepal, pointed out that while Nepal has set aside protected areas for wildlife, there is not even one wildlife treatment facility.

“Although there are ten national parks, three wildlife reserves, three conservation areas and one hunting reserve in Nepal, there is no wildlife veterinary center. Sadly, best efforts are not always enough, and without expertise and veterinary care, orphaned and injured animals often die.”

Mr. Bhattarai further explained that without a rescue center, the situation will become increasingly worse for wildlife.

“Many rhinos have died, due to infected wounds and orphan cases. Similarly, there were many more losses of endangered and vulnerable wildlife species, such as tigers, leopards, turtles and tortoises, deer, and golden monitor lizards, just to name a few.

If this scenario continues, Nepal will face a huge loss in wildlife biodiversity. The issues of climate change and flooding, erosion, poaching and human-wildlife conflicts are increasing year by year, so that means there will be even more cases of injured and orphaned animals.”

He added that a wildlife rescue and treatment center would ensure the overall ecology of Nepal.

“If enough wildlife veterinary facilities with technicians are arranged, it would provide the opportunity to increase the population of sensitive wildlife species, as well as create harmony between wildlife and the local community.

By ensuring the health of our wildlife, we ensure the healthy ecology of Nepal.”

Fortunately, Mr. Bhattarai is one of Nepal’s leading young conservationists who believes in taking action.

Photo courtesy of Suman Bhattarai

Planning for the future of Nepal’s wildlife

The urgent need for a wildlife rescue and treatment center prompted Mr. Bhattarai and his colleagues to begin exploring the possibilities.

In November 2010, the first meeting was held among grassroots stakeholders to introduce them to the concept of the country’s first rescue center for orphaned rhinos and injured wildlife.

Most of the participants were in favor of establishing the wildlife rescue center, and subsequent meetings are planned for continuing the dialogue.

To contact Suman Bhattarai directly and learn more about how you can help, please visit the PARC/Nepal website (rhinonepal.org).