 Reference Base  Further observations on the Great Indian one-horned rhino... |
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Gee, E.P., 1953. Further observations on the Great Indian one-horned rhinoceros (R. unicornis Linn.). Journal of the Bombay Natural History Society 51 (4): 765-772, pls. 1-2
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| Location: |
Asia - South Asia - India - Assam |
| Subject: |
Behaviour - Daily Routine |
| Species: |
Indian Rhino |
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As for dung heaps belonging to individual rhino and denoting territory, my own observations do not confirm this. It is my personal belief that, although rhino generally remain in one particular part of the sanctuary, they move about freely within that locality according to availability of grazing, mud wallows, water, crops to raid and so on. I believe that dung heaps are used by any rhino which happens to be passing by. On 3-1-1953 while observing Romeo and Juliet, I was following them on elephant-back. As we were all passing a dung heap Romeo noticed it, turned off his course to it and went through the motions of defecating without much result. Then he resumed his journey. On 15-8-1953 I was on elephant-back observing a large bull rhino as it was making its way westwards. After we had gone about a quarter of a mile in this way, the rhino noticed a dung heap in between us. Leaving its course and coming in my direction up to the dung heap, it turned round and deposited its dung. Then it resumed its course. My mahout, who said he had known rhino and their habits since he was a boy, stated that dung heaps are found all along rhino routes and are used by any rhino coming along. In this connection it is interesting to note that another observer (Bengt Berg, 1933) seems to have come to the same conclusion after a six week sojourn in the Jaldapara Sanctuary of Bengal. He says: 'I found that the old assumption that the rhino visits the same place daily to relieve himself is not quite correct. It rather seemed to me that where one rhino had left his dung (the odour is overpowering) another one passing the spot was wont to do the same'.
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