 Reference Base  Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam: a brief description... |
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Lahan, P.; Sonowal, R.N., 1973. Kaziranga Wild Life Sanctuary, Assam: a brief description and report on the census of large animals (March 1972). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 70 (2): 245-278, tables 1-6
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India - Assam |
| Subject: |
Ecology - Population |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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Out of the total count of 658 rhinos 472 were classified into males and females.
Of the entire adult population of 391 rhinos, 203 males and 188 females (including the 67 mothers). The sex ratio in the adult population thus works out to 100 males for 92 females.
In case of 81 young rhinos of whose sex was identified, 44 males against 37 females. The sex ratio in the young population thus works out to 100 males for 84 females.
In the check census out of a total count of 229 rhinos, 100 males, 93 females, 34 calves and 2 were nonsexed. Here also the sex ratio comes out to 100 males for 93 females. Thus we can roughly estimate that the males and females in a population are equally distributed with the sex ratio of one is to one.
But considering the fact that an adult female rhino gives birth to a calf after every three to four years after a gestation period of 16 to 18 months it is apparent that in any particular time of the year there will be a group of pregnant adult females, females with less than one year old calf and females with 2 year old calf who will not go into heat and will not accept the services of any male. Hence the sex ratio of one is to one appears to be unlikely. Probably the disparity in the sex ratio can be explained to some extent by the fact that for successful mating of rhinos the heat period of both the male and the female must coincide.
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