Social and Reproductive Behaviour of Great Indian One-horned Rhino, Rhinoceros unicornis in Dudhwa National Park, U.P., India

Abstract

Present work deals with the study of social and reproductive behaviour of the great Indian one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis L., 1758) in Dudhwa National Park, Uttar Pradesh (India). Indian rhinos are basically solitary creatures, but do not resent one another’s company. Occasionally, they form temporary associations consisting of either all female or all male in a large lake or at grazing areas. The only strong social bond is the mother-calf unit, which may last for up to 2-3 years. Indian rhinos are reluctant breeders i.e. the desire of courtship and mating behaviour in the male and female do not synchronize all time. Like female, male also undergoes a period of heat and these periods must coincide before mating takes place. Knowledge about the social and reproductive behaviour is important strategic information that should be incorporated into the conservation and management plan for the threatened Indian one-horned rhinos. The present study, conducted between January (2011) to December (2012), provides vital information to strengthen the available data about behaviour of Indian rhinos.