Idea #765 – Watching Nepal’s unicorn rhino on elephant back in Chitwan Park
The Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is a species of one-horned rhinoceros present in Asia, which lives more particularly in northern India and in Nepal. This mammal, once widespread, has seen its population collapse due to hunting and the development of agriculture. There were only about a hundred individuals left at the start of the 20th century; Protected from 1910, the Indian Rhinoceros then saw its population increase, reaching today more than 2700 individuals.
This “prehistoric” looking rhinoceros has thick, silvery-brown skin, with huge folds at the shoulders and thighs. The front legs and shoulders are covered with small, very characteristic protuberances. The animal has short hair, scattered over the body, which forms a small tuft at the end of the tail.
To observe it, we went to Chitwan National Park, the oldest national park in Nepal. Created in 1973, and was inscribed in 1984 on the UNESCO World Heritage List. It extends over more than 932 km2 and is home to several animal species in great danger of extinction – including the Indian Rhinoceros, the Bengal tiger or the so-called Ganges gavial crocodile. We followed him on the back of an elephant, which limits the nuisance to the animal.
Some Pictures
Where is it ?
Chitwan National Park, Népal
