 Reference Base  Report on a survey of the rhinoceros areas of Nepal, Marc... |
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Gee, E.P., 1959. Report on a survey of the rhinoceros areas of Nepal, March and April 1959. Oryx 5 (2): 53-85, pls. 1-13, maps 1-3
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - Nepal |
| Subject: |
Distribution - Records |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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The habits of the rhino of Nepal have been affected by two main factors. Firstly, rhino have been shot for sport as well as by poachers for a very long time, if not since time immemorial. Secondly, they have been pushed further and further back from their habitat and feeding grounds, particularly during the past four years, by the influx into the grasslands of both authorized and unauthorized settlers. Consequently they have become more and more hunted and persecuted, and like an outlawed political party have 'gone underground', taking refuge in the thick scrub forest of the riverain tracts. They have become very scared, and if encountered in their hiding places frequently charge before rushing away to another hiding place. They have become very much more nocturnal than rhino in India, and, are rarely if ever to be found grazing in the open during day time. Their dung often consists of individual droppings, or very small dung heaps instead of the large dung heaps found in Assam, and this is probably due to their more furtive existence. Though Jungle Mynas (Aethiopsar fuscus) settle on rhino in Nepal, Cattle Egrets (Bubulciis ibis) are never found in their company, though they are always so found in Assam; and this also is probably due to the rhino's nocturnal habits and furtive existence. The fact that so many rhino cows were seen with young calves (12 young calves out of 57 rhino seen by my party) goes to show that the rhino of Nepal have become accustomed to the new conditions in which they have to live and are actually thriving. The average horn I saw in Nepal was very much smaller than in Assam, and I saw no old rhinoceros. Both sportsmen and poachers look for large horns, furthermore the older rhino (often with large horns) are the more easily shot.
At the present moment the position of the rhino in Nepal is very insecure, especially considering the impending influx of 25,000 more authorized settlers, and an unknown number of unauthorized ones, into the Rapti Valley. An irrigation scheme also is proposed which would lead off the water of the Khagri Khola and other streams to the newly-settled area. If this is put into effect, it will drain to a dangerously low level the rhino habitat in the region of Tikoli and southwards to the Rapti.
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