Greater one-horned rhinoceros

Rhinoceros unicornis

Mammalia · Perissodactyla · Rhinocerotidae

Fig. 1. Greater one-horned rhinoceros

Fig. 2. Range

Length or height	About 1.7-2 m at the shoulder
Weight	About 1,800-2,700 kg
Food	Grass, water plants, fruit
Lifespan	About 40 years (est.)
Society	Mostly solitary
Habitat	grassland, wetland
Range	Asia
Wild or tame	Wild

One horn and deep skin folds that look like armor plates. About 4,075 live in India and Nepal (International Rhino Foundation, 2025), up from under 200 a century ago; Kaziranga holds most.

Observe: Look for the armor-plate folds and bumpy "rivets" on the skin.

Modern data

Status today

VUVulnerable status to verify

Conservation	Vulnerable; a recovery story.
Keeper's note	Daily checks of appetite, movement and behavior; enrichment that changes from day to day.
Kingdom · phylum	Animalia · Chordata
Genus	Rhinoceros

Check the record: IUCN Red List · GBIF · International Rhino Foundation: State of the Rhino 2025

See it elsewhere in the museum

For classes

Lessons: The Mammal Hall: Predict the dietPreviewHeredity and Evolution: Darwin and WallacePreviewThe Mammal Hall: Where the rule breaksPreview

Drawer: Zoo: Asian forest

Quiz: Asian forest quiz · 5 questions

8H7CCC

Same order: Perissodactyla

Greater one-horned rhinoceros

Status today

See it elsewhere in the museum

Same order: Perissodactyla

Donkey

Grevy's zebra

Plains zebra

Pony