Behavioural Patterns of the One Horned Indian Rhinoceros : Observations in
Kaziranga National Park/Kamal Chandra Patar. Delhi, Spectrum Pub., 2005, x,
50 p., 8 colour plates, 10 figs., ISBN 81-8344-000-2.
Behavioural Patterns of the One Horned Indian Rhinoceros : Observations in
Kaziranga National Park/Kamal Chandra Patar. Delhi, Spectrum Pub., 2005, x,
50 p., 8 colour plates, 10 figs., ISBN 81-8344-000-2.
Contents: Foreword. Preface. Introduction. I. Rhino: 1. Methods. 2. Results. 3. Food preferences. 4. Important foods. 5. Range condition and trends. II. Recommendations for management. III. Summary. IV. Observations on the behaviour of the one horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park: 1. Territoriality. 2. Social group. 3. Wallowing. 4. Resting. 5. Association. 6. Movement. 7. Direct interaction patterns. 8. Indirect communication by marks. 9. Interspecific competitions. References. Wild life conservation programmes in Assam. Some memorable experiences. Appendices. Select Bibliography.
"The food preferences of the one horned Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) were determined in the Kaziranga National Park, (KNP) during the dry season of 1975-1976.
Square-meter vegetation plots are located over 120 hectares of a short-grass rhino habitat. Grasses make up 77% and forbs 23% of the rhino's diet during the November to April dry season. Highly preferred species were Arundo Donax, Hemarthria compressa, Carex rubrobrunnea, Eleochoris Fistulosa and Lippia geminate. Thirteen grass and forb species are eaten by rhinos but not to the extent warranted by their abundance. Three forbs are avoided as foods.
H. Compressa, C. Rubrobrunnea, and A. Donax together comprise 71.5% of the available forage and 91.1% of the rhino's diet. They seem to typify the ideal dry-season habitat of the rhino. In some areas, however, these species seem to be overgrazed. There was thus some indication that maximum ungulate population had been achieved.
Range conditions and vegetative trends are affected by foraging herbivores. In order to determine these factors, it is essential to know the order in which forage plants are selected by various ungulate species. Rhinos are important grazers in KNP and this study was undertaken to learn their preferences in its short-grass dry-season habitat.
Also included in this book are some of the latest statistics and findings and some brilliant photographs." (jacket)