Question

Indian Rhinoceros is a natural inhabitant of which of the Indian states?
A. Himachal Pradesh
B. Uttar Pradesh
C. Assam
D. Uttarakhand

Answer 1

Hint: Indian Rhinoceros also called as the India rhino or the greater one-horned rhinoceros or great Indian rhinoceros. It is considered as endangered on the IUCN Red List.

Complete Answer:
- The Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), belongs to the family of Rhinocerotidae. It is an endemic of the northeast region of India and is a natural inhabitant of Assam. Kaziranga National Park is popular for great Indian rhinoceros.
- Greater one-horned rhinoceros population is fragmented and restricted to less than 20000 km square. Moreover, the extent and quality of the rhino, most important habitat, the alluvial Terai-Duar savanna and grasslands and the riverine forest is considered to be in decline due to human livestock encroachment. As of 2008, a total of 2575 mature individuals were estimated to live in the wild.

So the correct answer is option ‘C’ i.e; Assam.

Additional information: Indian rhinoceros once ranged throughout the entire stretch of the Indo- Gangetic plain, but excessively hunting and agricultural development reduced its range drastically to sites in northern India and southern Nepal. India rhinoceros have a thick grey-brown skin with pinkish skin folds and one horn on their snout. Their upper legs and shoulders are covered in wart-like bumps. They have very little body hair, aside from eyelashes, ear fringes, and tail brush. Males have huge neck folds. In captive animals, the horn is frequently worn down to a thick knob. Adult males are usually solitary.

Note: A park in use for conservation purposes is known as a National park. Kaziranga National Park is known for its good population of animals and the park is the breeding ground of greater one-horned rhinoceros, elephants, wild water buffalo and swamp deer.