Population status, structure and distribution of the greater one-horned rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in Nepal

Abstract

We assessed the abundance and distribution of the greater one-horned or Indian rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis in all its potential habitats in Nepal, using block counts. In April 2011 5,497 km were searched in 3,548 elephant-hours over 23 days. The validity of the block count was assessed by comparing it with counts obtained from long-term monitoring using photographic identification of individual rhinoceroses (ID-based), and estimates obtained by closed population sighting-mark-resighting in the 214 km 2 of Chitwan National Park. A total of 534 rhinoceroses were found during the census, with 503 in Chitwan National Park (density 1 km −2 ), 24 in Bardia National Park (0.28 km −2 ) and seven in Suklaphanta Wildlife Reserve (0.1 km −2 ). In Chitwan 66% were adults, 12% subadults and 22% calves, with a female : male ratio of 1.24. The population estimate from sighting-mark-resighting was 72 (95% CI 71-78). The model with different detection probabilities for males and females had better support than the null model. In the Sauraha area of Chitwan estimates of the population obtained by block count (77) and ID-based monitoring (72) were within the 95% confidence interval of the estimate from sighting-mark-resighting. We recommend a country-wide block count for rhinoceroses every 3 years and annual IDbased monitoring in a sighting-mark-resighting framework within selected subpopulations. The sighting-mark-resighting technique provides the statistical rigour required for population estimates of the rhinoceros in Nepal and elsewhere.

Mycobacterium orygis–Associated Tuberculosis in Free-Ranging Rhinoceros, Nepal, 2015

“…In a demographic study of rhinoceros in Nepal ( 10 ), the animals were found to be living in a narrow area of riverine grassland in CNP. A chronic and devastating disease like TB in this vulnerable and isolated population, which is already threatened from habitat destruction and poaching, is a matter of great conservation concern for the animal’s long-term survivability.…”

Risks from disease caused byMycobacterium orygisas a consequence of Greater one‐horned Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) translocation in Nepal

“…Human settlements also surround the borders of the National Parks (‘Bardia National Park’, ). GOH rhino were originally distributed across the whole of Nepal, and rivers do not act as a barrier to their distribution because they are successful swimmers (Hutchins & Kreger, ; Subedi et al, ). In addition, human settlement does not create an unbroken physical barrier between the Parks.…”

“…The greater one‐horned rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis ) (hereafter, 'GOH rhino'), also known as the Indian rhinoceros or the Asian one‐horned rhinoceros, listed in Appendix I of the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species (CITES) and classified vulnerable on the International Union for the Conservation of Nature's (IUCN’s) Red List, is the only rhinoceros species found in Nepal (Talukdar et al, ; WWF, ). The range of the GOH rhino originally spread across the northern Indian subcontinent but, due to urbanization, loss of habitat, poaching and hunting for sport (WWF, ), they are now restricted to a few small, isolated populations in India and Nepal (Subedi et al, ). GOH rhino numbers had decreased to 600 individuals in 1975 but increased to approximately 3,500 individuals by 2008 (Talukdar et al, ).…”

“…(Talukdar et al, 2008;WWF, 2017). The range of the GOH rhino originally spread across the northern Indian subcontinent but, due to urbanization, loss of habitat, poaching and hunting for sport (WWF, 2017), they are now restricted to a few small, isolated populations in India and Nepal (Subedi et al, 2013). GOH rhino numbers had decreased to 600 individuals in 1975 but increased to approximately 3,500 individuals by 2008 (Talukdar et al, 2008).…”

Wildlife Tuberculosis: An Emerging Threat for Conservation in South Asia

“…The present day free-ranging population of rhinoceroses in Nepal and India has increased from only 600 individuals in 1975 to 3555 individuals by mid-2015 [47]. In Nepal, the population of rhinoceroses is 645 individuals, of which 605 individuals live in CNP in a relatively narrow area of riverine grassland [48,49]. From a conservation point of view, having a chronic and devastating disease like TB in this vulnerable and isolated population, that is already threatened from habitat destruction and poaching, is a matter of great concern for the animal's longterm survival.…”