One Horned Rhino >> Breeding & Behaviour

Rhinos are usually solitary, except for females with small calves. Males have loosely defined territory according to the availability of food, seasons but females can move in and out of this territory as they like. Males fight violently for their favourite places even sometimes causing the death. They also die due to the inflicted wound after some days later the fight. Several individuals meet in wallowing but separate after. Wallowing helps thermo-regulation by preventing overheating. The mud, covering the body serves as skin care. They frequently use 12 different sounds for communication. Heap of dung also serves as communication point, and may be of 5 meters wide and 1 meter high. After defecation, they scratch their hind feet in the dung. By continuing to walk, they transport their own smell around the paths. They tend to use the same path, marked by the secretation from the gland of their feet, urine and dung.

The rhinoceros is solitary though several may occupy the same patch of forest. In Nepal, during the monsoon, they frequently enter into farmland. They have particular places for dropping its excreta; so mounds accumulate in places. In approaching these spots a rhinoceros walks backward and falls an easy victim to the poachers. Breeding takes place all time of the year and gestation period is about 16 months. The rhinoceros has among the lowest reproductive rates known for mammals. Females nurse babies to the age of 2 years, but by the age of 2 months, the calves begin supplementing milk intake with grass shoot, and by 10 months they graze and browse freely. The rhino cows guard young calves intimately; calves become separated from their mothers when cows are chased by breeding bulls and occasionally during long grazing bouts.

Females become sexually mature at 5-7 years old, males at 8-10 years. Their gestation period is approximately 16 months (465-490) days and gives birth every three years. The baby at the birth is 105 cm in length and weight ranges from 50- 70 kg. A calf drinks 30 liters of milk per day and grows by 1-2 kg daily. They start nibbling/feeding on rough age at the age of 3-5 months and continue to suckle up to 20 months. Youngsters are predated by tigers as adults have no enemies other than humans.

Exchanging greetings is common among calves, rhinos and sub adults who are strongest to each other. A rhino approaches another and slowly to greet with its nose stretched out. Then they join noses followed by a bout of sparring with the horn carding the others snout and clashing audibly and muzzling of the side of one's face with the other's mouth. During muzzling a biting posture is evident.