With reference to the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, consider the foll...
According to a study, published in the latest edition of People and Nature by the British Ecological Society, the horns of rhinoceroses may have become smaller over time from the impact of hunting.
- The recent study analysed artwork and photographs of the animal spanning more than five centuries.
Five species face threat:
- Rhinos have long been hunted for their horns. The five surviving rhino species are threatened by habitat loss and hunting.
- The study found that the rate of decline in horn length was highest in the critically endangered Sumatran rhino and lowest in the white rhino of Africa, the most commonly found species in the wild and in captivity.
- This observation follows patterns seen in other animals, such as tusk size in elephants and horn length in wild sheep, which have been driven down by directional selection due to trophy hunting.
The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros:
- The greater one-horned rhino (or “Indian rhino”) is the largest of the rhino species.
- It is identified by a single black horn and a grey-brown hide with skin folds.
- It is one of the five species of Rhinos.
- The other four species are:
- White rhino: It is native to northern and southern Africa
- Black rhino: It is native to eastern and southern Africa
- Javan rhino: It is also known as Sunda rhino or lesser one-horned rhino
- Sumatran rhino: Critically Endangered species of rhino
- Habitat:
- Greater one-horned rhinos are grazers. When not grazing on land, they like to immerse themselves in water, where they also graze on aquatic plants.
- This species of rhino is commonly found in Nepal, Bhutan, Pakistan and in Assam, India.
- Protection Status:
- IUCN Red List: Vulnerable
- CITES: Appendix I
- Wildlife Protection Act, 1972: Schedule I
Hence, option (a) is the correct answer.
With reference to the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, consider the foll...
Introduction:
The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros, also known as the Indian Rhinoceros or the Great Indian Rhinoceros, is a large herbivorous mammal native to the Indian subcontinent. It is one of the five existing species of rhinoceros and is known for its single horn and thick, armored skin. In this question, we are asked to consider two statements related to this species and determine their correctness.
Statement 1: This species of rhino is found only in India.
The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros is primarily found in India, but it is not limited to India alone. It is also present in other countries in the Indian subcontinent, including Nepal and Bhutan. Therefore, statement 1 is incorrect.
Statement 2: It is listed as vulnerable in IUCN list.
The International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) is an organization that assesses the conservation status of species worldwide. The Greater One-horned Rhinoceros is indeed listed as vulnerable on the IUCN Red List. This means that the species is facing a high risk of extinction in the wild. Factors such as habitat loss, poaching, and illegal trade contribute to its vulnerable status. Therefore, statement 2 is correct.
Conclusion:
Based on the above analysis, we can conclude that statement 1 is incorrect, and statement 2 is correct. Hence, the correct option is 'b) 2 only'.