II.

Range and Habitat

Although they all eat plants, rhinos live in different habitats and feed in different ways.

A.

In Asia

In Asia the Sumatran and Javan rhinos inhabit dense tropical forests, where they feed on leaves, twigs, and fruit. The Indian rhino also browses on trees and shrubs, but instead of living in forests, it feeds in flat, open areas. In the rainy season, its main food is swampland grass, which can grow over 5 m (16 ft) high.

The Indian rhino once ranged across northern India, Pakistan, and Nepal, but by the beginning of the 20th century less than 100 animals survived. By 2001, thanks to years of rigorous protection, there were about 2,400 of these rhinos, concentrated in Indian and Nepali national parks. At one time, the Sumatran and Javan rhinos were also widespread throughout Asia, but their numbers have plunged and show no signs of recovering. Sumatran rhinos, numbering about 300 animals, are scattered in small, fragmented groups across Southeast Asia, primarily in Malaysia and Indonesia. Found only in Indonesia and Vietnam, the Javan rhino now numbers only about 60 animals, making this species the most endangered rhinoceros in the world.

B.

In Africa

In Africa both black and white rhinoceroses live in open woodland and tree-studded plains, but their feeding habits are quite unalike. The black rhinoceros feeds on leaves and twigs, while the white rhinoceros is the world’s biggest grazing animal, living almost entirely on low-growing grass.

Black rhinos were once found in many parts of Africa south of the Sahara Desert, but unrestrained hunting in the last half of the 20th century caused the population to collapse by more than 90 percent. Anti-poaching efforts have helped the black rhino population to rebound somewhat and by 2001, about 2,700 animals were scattered across central, southern, and southeastern Africa. The white rhinoceros has fared better, with over 10,400 surviving, mainly in southern Africa. Some white rhinos also live in East Africa, and a small number are found in Central Africa west of the White Nile in Sudan, but even so, the species occupies only a fraction of its former range.