With their thick skin and pointy horns, Indian rhinoceroses are not to be messed with. They can weigh almost 5,000 pounds and are the second largest land mammal in Asia. Indian rhinoceroses look like modern day dinosaurs. These animals and their awesome armor provide a hook to introduce young readers to important concepts drawn directly from the Life Science curriculum.
This Volume Is A Comprehensive Account Of The Great Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros, Its Past History And Present Status, Generic Characteristics, Temperament, Behaviour And Habits As Well As Its Position In The Scheme Of Nature.
Ugly yet enchanting, terrifying yet delicate, the Indian Rhinoceros is a magnificent animal. It is also in danger of being killed off for good. The Soul of the Rhino is a spirited account of one man’s journey to protect the animal in the foothills of the Himalayas. Hemanta Mishra was fresh out of university when he embarked on his conservation work in the 1970s. Over the years, he got help from an ornery but steadfast elephant driver, the Nepalese royal family and like-minded scientists. He also did outstanding work--creating nature reserves, arm-wrestling politicians and raising awareness. But Mishra hasn’t won his battle to save the rhino. As he shows vividly, armed insurgence, political violence and poaching are driving this endangered species to complete extinction. Filled with candour and bittersweet humour, The Soul of the Rhino is the first book of its kind to delve into the labyrinths of South Asian wildlife conservation and one man’s endurance in the face of it all.
Learn about the 5 species of rhinos in Africa and Asia, including what they eat, how mothers care for babies, and how human activities have affected them and their habitat.
Beginning in 1984, Eric Dinerstein led a team directly responsible for the recovery of the greater one-horned rhinoceros in the Royal Chitwan National Park in Nepal, where the population had once declined to as few as 100 rhinos. The Return of the Unicorns is an account of what it takes to save endangered large mammals. In its pages, Dinerstein outlines the multifaceted recovery program—structured around targeted fieldwork and scientific research, effective protective measures, habitat planning and management, public-awareness campaigns, economic incentives to promote local guardianship, and bold, uncompromising leadership—that brought these extraordinary animals back from the brink of extinction. In an age when scientists must also become politicians, educators, fund-raisers, and activists to safeguard the subjects that they study, Dinerstein's inspiring story offers a successful model for large-mammal conservation that can be applied throughout Asia and across the globe.
Boom! When rhinoceroses move, the ground shakes! These tanks with horns are one of the world's largest land animals. Engaging text, bold photos, and colorful maps shine a spotlight on these mighty pachyderms. Readers are introduced to physical features, behavior, habitat, and life cycle to find out why rhinoceroses are awesome!
There are currently three species of Asian rhino: the Indian or greater one-horned Asian rhino, the Javan or lesser one-horned Asian rhino and the Sumatran or Asian two-horned rhino. Today, all three are threatened with extinction and two, the Sumatran rhino and Javan rhino, critically so. Although the Indian rhino is to be found in greater numbers than the other two, the threats to this species nevertheless remain significant. As in the case of the African rhinos, the threats to the Asian rhinos stem from poaching for the horn, the primary demand for which is in traditional Chinese medicine but which is also a speculator's commodity in several consumer nations. However, a further threat to these animals is also posed by the destruction of their habitat. Indeed, two of these species inhabit the tropical rainforest which is being destroyed. This action plan describes the major requirements for rhino conservation and describes some of the programmes which can and are being implemented to stem the threats to these species such as managed breeding and the "in situ" conservation of their habitats.
The rhinoceros is an iconic animal. Three species once inhabited South Asia, two of which disappeared over a century ago. This survey aims to reconstruct the historical distribution of these large mammals resulting in new maps showing the extent of their occurrences. Thousands of sources varied in time and nature are used to study the interactions between man and rhinoceros. The text is supported by over 700 illustrations and 38 maps showing the importance of the rhinoceros in the scientific and cultural fabric of Asia and beyond.
