Rhinoceros Unicornis Research Articles

Environmental drivers of spatio-temporal dynamics in floodplain vegetation: grasslands as habitat for megafauna in Bardia National Park (Nepal)

Abstract. Disturbance-dependent grasslands, often associated with hydromorphological and fire dynamics, are threatened, especially in subtropical climates. In the Nepalese and Indian Terai Arc Landscape at the foot of the Himalayas, natural and cultural grasslands serve a viable role for greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and for grazers that form prey of the Royal Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris). The grasslands are vulnerable to encroachment of forest. We aimed to establish the effects of environmental drivers, in particular river discharge, river channel dynamics, precipitation and forest fires, on the spatio-temporal dynamics of these grasslands. The study area is the floodplain of the eastern branch of the Karnali River and adjacent western part of Bardia National Park. We created annual time series (1993–2019) of land cover with the use of field data, remotely sensed LANDSAT imagery and a supervised classification model. Additionally, we analysed the pattern of grassland patches and aerial photographs of 1964. Between 1964 and 2019, grassland patches decreased in abundance and size due to encroachment of forest. Outside the floodplain, conversion of grassland to bare substrate coincides with extreme precipitation events. Within the floodplain, conversion of grassland to bare substrate correlates with the magnitude of the annual peak discharge of the bifurcated Karnali River. Since 2009, however, this correlation is absent due to a shift of the main discharge channel to the western branch of the Karnali River. Consequently, alluvial tall grasslands (Saccharum spontaneum dominant) have vastly expanded between 2009 and 2019. Because the hydromorphological processes in the floodplain have become more static, other sources of disturbances – local flooding of ephemeral streams, anthropogenic maintenance, grazing and fires – are more paramount to prevent encroachment of grasslands. Altogether, our findings underscore that a change in the environmental drivers impact the surface area and heterogeneity of grassland patches in the landscape, which can lead to cascading effects for the grassland-dependent megafauna.

Comparative analysis of gestation in three rhinoceros species (Diceros bicornis; Ceratotherium simum; Rhinoceros unicornis)

This comparative analysis evaluated endocrine profiles and gestation length data of captive pregnant black rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis), white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum), and greater one-horned (GOH) rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis). Hormone profiles were collected over three decades as part of pregnancy diagnoses. After the third month of gestation, the luteo-placental shift in progesterone production in pregnant rhinoceroses causes a significant increase in the concentration of faecal progesterone metabolites. We defined a laboratory-specific value of 1000 ng/g faeces as a threshold for incipient feto-placental progesterone production. Using this value allowed a comparison between species and revealed significant individual differences within a species. The mean ± SEM gestation days for reaching the 1000 ng/g faeces threshold were 89.5 ± 2.9 (range 56–138 days; n = 39) in black, 96.0 ± 2.6 (58–138; n = 39) in white, and 117.8 ± 5.3 (74–173; n = 19) in GOH rhinoceroses. For the calculations of gestation length, we complemented our results from three decades of reproductive monitoring with data from the literature, resulting in about 70 values for each species. Gestation length in the black, the white and the GOH rhinoceros was 460.6 ± 1.5 (range: 436 – 486), 503.8 ± 1.3 (range: 480 – 525) and 480.5 ± 1.1 (range: 453 – 505) days, respectively. Daylight length significantly affected gestation length, while the sex of offspring had no effect. On average, pregnancies with parturitions in spring and summer were one week shorter than those in autumn and winter. Although rhinoceroses are non-seasonal breeders, most parturitions in captivity occur in autumn and winter. We also analysed preconception endocrine profiles in the white rhinoceros. Conceptions in this species occurred after oestrous cycles of approximately 35 days (n = 18), 70 days (n = 3), 15 days (n = 1), after periods of ovarian inactivity (n = 5), and during a foal heat within one month after stillbirth parturition (n = 1). In conclusion, this study provides a comprehensive overview of gestational parameters in three rhinoceros species.

Fecal Microbiota of Rhinoceros Unicornis as a Reservoir of Multi-Drug-Resistant Bacteria

The presence of Antimicrobial Resistance (AMR) bacteria in wildlife indicates the possible role of wild animals as efficient AMR reservoirs and dispersers of resistant bacteria to the human, livestock and natural environments. The presence of AMR bacteria not only has serious public health consequences, but also threatens native wildlife populations. In this study, we investigate the occurrence and antibiotic resistance patterns of fecal microbiota of Rhinoceros unicornis in Assam. Sixty two freshly voided dung samples of rhinoceros were collected from Kaziranga National Park of Assam in 2018. Fecal samples were tested for the presence of bacterial species and submitted to National Centre for Veterinary Type Cultures, National Research Centre on Equines, (NC-VTCC, NRCE) Hisar for identification. Antimicrobial Susceptibility Testing (AST) was determined using the disk diffusion method and antibiotic resistance patterns were assessed according to the Clinical and Laboratory Standards Institute (CLSI) recommendations. Overall, 24 isolates were identified that belonged to 19 different bacterial genera including Klebsiella spp., Achromobacter spp., Pseudomonas spp., Alishewanella spp., Wautersiella spp., Moraxella spp., Inquilinus spp., Weeksella spp., Oligella spp., Myroides spp., Paracoccus spp., Ochrobactrum spp., Psychrobacter spp., Pannonibacter spp., Shewanella spp., Sphingobacterium spp., Sphingomonas spp. (4% each), Escherichia coli (8%) and Acinetobacter spp. (21%). Of the 24 isolates found in rhinoceros fecal samples tested for antimicrobial susceptibility, 13 isolates showed resistant to three or more than three substance classes. Results indicate that overall, most of the bacterial species from R. unicornis were multi-drug-resistant, which may reflect not only several risk factors leading to the origin of AMR in wild animals but also wildlife as natural reservoir of resistant bacteria. Therefore, efforts must be initiated to monitor the occurrence of such AMR bacteria in wildlife and understand their potential effect on wildlife conservation and public health.

Validation of the iSperm for assessing rhinoceros Sperm

This study's objective was to determine the feasibility of using a portable computer-assisted sperm analyzer to standardize the evaluation of rhinoceros sperm motility and concentration. Assessments were performed opportunistically as part of other ongoing studies and included both fresh and cryopreserved samples from black (Diceros bicornis; n = 3), white (Ceratotherium simum; n = 7), and greater one-horned (Rhinoceros unicornis; n = 5) rhinoceroses. Accuracy of the iSperm Rhino 5 software in identifying sperm cells was evaluated through manual scoring of sperm tracks (n = 48 videos from 12 samples). The number of sperm identified by the observer and the software were significantly correlated (Pearson r = 0.9908, P < 0.0001). Moreover, the bias between the observer to iSperm values was small (Bland-Altman test; mean ratio = 0.97 observer/iSperm). A strong correlation (Pearson r = 0.9847, P < 0.0001) between hemocytometer counting and the iSperm for sperm concentration (n = 50) was also observed with a bias of just 1.03 (mean ratio hemocytometer to iSperm). Reliability analysis was performed by comparing ten consecutive evaluations on four different samples using intraclass correlation coefficients (ICC). In this study, the reliability (aka repeatability) of measuring the concentration or total motility via iSperm was deemed excellent (ICC > 0.96). Results of this work demonstrate that the iSperm offers a reliable and semi-automated alternative to manual evaluations for assessing sperm concentrations and motility in the rhinoceros. The ability to determine wildlife sperm concentrations rapidly and motility objectively while working under field conditions would be a great asset to conservation biologists in both zoological institutions and wildlife reserves.

Empire, Nature and Agrarian World: A History of Rhino Preservation in the Kaziranga Game Reserve, India (1902–1938)

The greater one-horned rhinoceros or Indian rhinoceros ( Rhinoceros unicornis ) faced extinction in British India at the end of the nineteenth century. In 1908, the Government of Assam established the Kaziranga Game Reserve (KGR, now Kaziranga National Park) to preserve the vanishing rhino. As the twentieth century progressed, creating wilderness – by demonising the presence of the peasants and graziers – became a global panacea for protecting wildlife. Contrary to that belief, this article will show how the rhino population revived amidst human existence dictated by agro-ecological interactions and bureaucratic expediencies. The rhino’s ethology and its place in the imagination of rural people minimised its enemies. Moreover, in fluvial geography that constantly transformed the KGR’s boundaries, peasants and graziers creatively negotiated their usufruct rights and supported rhino preservation. Locating the KGR in the historical analysis of fluvial agro-ecology, this study illuminates how a critical interaction between different actors, i.e. human and non-human and coloniser and colonised, accentuated the cultural and material contestations amidst which the rhino eventually survived.

Diurnal Behavioural Patterns and Activity Budget of Great Indian OneHorned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata, India

Diurnal Behavioural Patterns and Activity Budget of Great Indian OneHorned Rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) in Alipore Zoological Garden, Kolkata, India

Primer design for extremely damaged DNA specimens of Asian rhinoceros species

Primer design for extremely damaged DNA specimens of Asian rhinoceros species

Legacy of co-existence between rhino and people in a protected area in India

Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary in the Indian state of Assam has the highest density of the globally threatened greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) in the world. The sanctuary constitutes an area of 38.81 km.., which is relatively small for the rhino habitation. The contest for space and resources as a consequence, often triggers the megaherbivore...s movement in the fringe areas of human settlements. Interestingly, the episodes of the human-rhino conflict are less contrary to the existing situation, which this paper aims to explore by understanding the community...s perception towards wildlife, particularly the rhino. The five study villages and respondents were selected based on purposive sampling. The study highlights the role of attitudes, environmental ethics and, religious belief systems of the community while providing a space for co-existence for wildlife, which is a central issue today in conservation science and policy.

Reduced genetic diversity in greater one-horned rhinoceros in Chitwan National Park A new challenge and opportunity for rhino conservation in Nepal

Understanding the genetic diversity of a species is vital to improve the effectiveness of conservation management interventions. The greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is one of the most iconic megaherbivores in South Asia but is classified as Vulnerable by the IUCN. The species is now broadly confined to two isolated populations in Chitwan National Park (CNP), Nepal and Northeast India, which are both constrained by poaching, and the loss or degradation of habitat. Since 2016, rhino mortalities have increased in CNP for unknown reasons. To assess the impact of any current or previous mortality events, we investigated the genetic diversity in the current CNP rhino population. We collected skin samples from 67 dead rhinos found in CNP and its buffer zone between 2012 and 2019. Fragments 428 bp of mitochondrial DNA D-loop were amplified from extracted DNA using PCR and sequenced to compare with complementary sequences derived from a previous study of CNP rhinos conducted during 1986-1987. A total of six haplotypes were detected in the older sample set with a haplotype diversity (Hd) of 0.38012 compared to only four haplotypes and a Hd of 0.3374 in our cohort. This decline in haplotype diversity was unexpected as the CNP rhino population has increased by 69% over the previous 27 years. In addition, we found the haplotypes were not equally distributed across CNP, with a greater variation detected in the eastern sector (4 haplotypes) compared to the west (1 haplotype). We recommend that CNP management authorities consider translocations within the park boundaries to promote breeding between the eastern and western subpopulations to disseminate and maintain haplotype diversity throughout the population.

Anthropogenic mortality of large mammals and trends of conflict over two decades in Nepal.

Wildlife conservation in human‐dominated landscapes faces increased challenges due to rising conflicts between humans and wildlife. We investigated the human and wildlife loss rates due to human–wildlife conflict between 2000 and 2020 in Nepal. We concentrated on Asian elephant (Elephas maximus), greater one‐horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis), tiger (Panthera tigirs), and leopard (Panthera pardus) mortality, as well as human mortality caused by these species. Over the 21‐year period, we recorded 1139 cases of wildlife mortality and 887 cases of human mortality. Leopard mortality was the highest, followed by that of greater one‐horned rhinos, tigers, and Asian elephants. Overall, the rate of wildlife mortality has been increasing over the years. Asian elephants were found to be more responsible for crop damage than greater one‐horned rhinos, while leopards were found to be more responsible for livestock depredation than tigers. The generalized linear model indicated that the mortality of wildlife in the districts is best predicted by the additive effect of human mortality, the proportion of agricultural land, and the literacy rate of the districts. Retaliatory wildlife mortality was the most challenging issue for wildlife conservation, especially for the large mammals. Findings from this study are important for mitigation of human–wildlife conflicts, controlling retaliatory killing, and conserving these threatened large mammals.

Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis) mortality patterns in Nepal

Nepal’s lowland regions provide a rich habitat for greater one-horned rhino ( Rhinoceros unicornis ) populations. However, rhinos are facing human-caused and natural threats such as habitat loss and several other forms of anthropogenic pressure that cause mortality of greater one-horned rhinos (hereafter rhino) in Nepal. Understanding these patterns of mortality can provide important information for rhino conservation. In this study, we answered three important questions to aid in rhino conservation in Nepal:1)what was the pattern of rhino mortality (increased, decreased, or no change) during 2008–2018 in Nepal? 2) Does the pattern of rhino mortality vary by season, age, and gender? And, 3) what are the major causes of rhino mortality in Nepal? We collected rhino mortality data along with age, gender, and cause of death in the period between 2008 and 2018 in Nepal from secondary sources. We found that a total of 232 cases of rhino mortalities were observed during the 11-year period. Mortality of the rhino was associated with age and cause but not with gender and season. Among the nine categories of the causes of mortality, self-fighting, natural, tiger attacks, and poaching contributed about 80 % of total mortality. Mortality due to poaching of rhinos has decreased in recent years, while mortality due to self-fighting and tiger attacks have increased. We concluded that mortality causes associated with limited space and food, and tiger population growth are increasing in recent years. Therefore, habitat expansion, translocation to new suitable habitats, and multispecies conservation policy would contribute to long-term rhino conservation in Nepal.

Impact and Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict Around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

In some areas, Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a key issue for conservation and sustainable rural development due to increasing habitat loss and resource competition, resulting from the climate crisis and increasing human population. This study explored perceptions and experiences of HEC by smallholder farmers in villages near Kaziranga National Park, India. Interviews were conducted with 140 households in 29 villages using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participatory risk mapping was also conducted in three villages to identify perceived risks and their severity. Respondents considered crop-eating as a considerable challenge to efficient and productive farming. HEC scored a risk index of 0.986, greater than wild buffalo and one-horned rhinoceros combined. HEC around Kaziranga National Park is mainly nocturnal and seasonal, with peak activity in winter. Mitigation was primarily traditional 'drive-away' methods of shouting and burning tires. Villagers considered elephants an embodiment of the elephant God, Ganesha, which has conservation value. The government compensation policy was known to 40% of respondents, and 75% of them believed it complex and inadequate based on their experience. Tolerance for HEC was evident; 94% of respondents expressed a desire to remain in their village. Affected farmers recommended solar-powered electric fencing and efficient compensation to reduce HEC impacts. Mitigation measures should engage farmers, build trust, and address perceptions of successful outcomes. Effective HEC mitigation is essential to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals in affected regions as well as elephant conservation.

Impact and Mitigation of Human-Elephant Conflict Around Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

In some areas, Human-elephant conflict (HEC) is a key issue for conservation and sustainable rural development due to increasing habitat loss and resource competition, resulting from the climate crisis and increasing human population. This study explored perceptions and experiences of HEC by smallholder farmers in villages near Kaziranga National Park, India. Interviews were conducted with 140 households in 29 villages using a semi-structured questionnaire. Participatory risk mapping was also conducted in three villages to identify perceived risks and their severity. Respondents considered crop-eating as a considerable challenge to efficient and productive farming. HEC scored a risk index of 0.986, greater than wild buffalo and one-horned rhinoceros combined. HEC around Kaziranga National Park is mainly nocturnal and seasonal, with peak activity in winter. Mitigation was primarily traditional 'drive-away' methods of shouting and burning tires. Villagers considered elephants an embodiment of the elephant God, Ganesha, which has conservation value. The government compensation policy was known to 40% of respondents, and 75% of them believed it complex and inadequate based on their experience. Tolerance for HEC was evident; 94% of respondents expressed a desire to remain in their village. Affected farmers recommended solar-powered electric fencing and efficient compensation to reduce HEC impacts. Mitigation measures should engage farmers, build trust, and address perceptions of successful outcomes. Effective HEC mitigation is essential to achieve UN Sustainable Development Goals in affected regions as well as elephant conservation.

Conservation of Tiger Panthera tigris in Nepal: a review of current efforts and challenges

The Tiger Panthera tigris is one of the most charismatic and well known Asian big cats. In the lowlands of Nepal, Tigers along with the Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros Rhinoceros unicornis and the Asiatic Elephant Elephas maximus serve as flagship species gathering global conservation attention. Current surveys estimate a population of 235 tigers in Nepal. Tigers in Nepal are strictly protected in five protected areas located in the lowlands and their adjoining forest areas which cover 7,668.20 km2. However, over the last century, tiger population and their distribution range drastically declined with the species heading towards extinction. The long-term survival of this charismatic species is challenging largely due to the loss and fragmentation of habitat, climate change, increasing human-wildlife interface and poaching for illegal trade of body parts. In response to this, the Government of Nepal along with conservation agencies and local communities have proceeded to execute various conservation initiatives both at national and international level. This paper tries to scrutinize the current status of tiger population, conservation efforts, and existing challenges to conserve tiger species in Nepal.

The Legal Framework and Verdicts of the Supreme Court in Protection of the Greater One-horned Rhinoceros: The Case of Nepal

The greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) is the largest rhinoceros species found in Nepal and India. The habitat of the greater one-horned rhinoceros encompasses the southern border between the two nations, hence these animals regularly cross this international boundary. Having a national park situated at the periphery of at an international border facilitates the ability of poachers to easily escape from the crime scene. The article examines the legal framework enacted by Nepal to address the poaching of the greater one-horned rhinoceros, one of the world’s most popular endangered mammals. This article also analyzes the case law related to the poaching of the one-horned rhinoceros from the Supreme Court of Nepal. The strict enforcement of the legal provisions adopted by Nepal through the enactment of the National Parks and Wildlife Conservation Act 1973, combined with the punitive approach of the Supreme Court of Nepal, has also helped to discourage the poaching of this species in Nepal. The Supreme Court of Nepal has jointly punished the principal offender for poaching offences with their accomplices, which has helped to discourage in poaching of the one-horned rhinoceros. Nevertheless, a quasi-judicial body, the Office of the National Park, which handles the case firsthand, implements and exercises legal provisions related to poaching at the initial stage and also gives an initial verdict. In most poaching cases involving the one-horned rhinoceros, the principal offenders and accomplices are predominantly drawn from a specific community residing around the Chitwan National Park.

Endangering the Endangered: The Poaching and Conservation Conundrum Facing the Greater Indian One-Horned Rhinoceros in Kaziranga National Park, Assam, India

The Kaziranga National Park (KNP), a World Heritage Site in the state of Assam, India, represents an area of unique importance to global rhinoceros conservation. It is home to the world’s largest population of the famous black Asiatic one-horned rhinoceros, which remains an endangered species, and one that has been closely threatened with extinction. This article explores the conservation strategies for the great endangered Indian one-horned rhinoceros in Kaziranga by situating it in a regional spectrum of conservation and regimes of ecological governance. It considers the crucial issue of rhinoceros poaching and the current anti-poaching mechanisms in KNP in the light of global wildlife conservation efforts and domestic anti-poaching mechanisms in India. It further identifies the gaps between policy formulation and implementation of conservation strategies regarding the rhinoceros of KNP, a species that holds a unique geopolitical importance, both in the global context of the conservation of endangered species generally, and more locally as the national symbol of the state of Assam, India.

Consideration of genetic variation and evolutionary history in future conservation of Indian one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis)

BackgroundThe extant members of the Asian rhinos have experienced severe population and range declines since Pleistocene through a combination of natural and anthropogenic factors. The one-horned rhino is the only Asian species recovered from such conditions but most of the extant populations are reaching carrying capacity. India currently harbours ~ 83% of the global wild one-horned rhino populations distributed across seven protected areas. Recent assessments recommend reintroduction-based conservation approaches for the species, and implementation of such efforts would greatly benefit from detailed genetic assessments and evolutionary history of these populations. Using mitochondrial data, we investigated the phylogeography, divergence and demographic history of one-horned rhinos across its Indian range.ResultsWe report the first complete mitogenome from all the extant Indian wild one-horned rhino populations (n = 16 individuals). Further, we identified all polymorphic sites and assessed rhino phylogeography (2531 bp mtDNA, n = 111 individuals) across India. Results showed 30 haplotypes distributed as three distinct genetic clades (Fst value 0.68–1) corresponding to the states of Assam (n = 28 haplotypes), West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh (both monomorphic). The reintroduced population of Uttar Pradesh showed maternal signatures of Chitwan National Park, Nepal. Mitochondrial phylogenomics suggests one-horned rhino diverged from its recent common ancestors ~ 950 Kya and different populations (Assam, West Bengal and Uttar Pradesh/Nepal) coalesce at ~ 190–50 Kya, corroborating with the paleobiogeography history of the Indian subcontinent. Further, the demography analyses indicated historical decline in female effective population size ~ 300–200 Kya followed by increasing trends during ~ 110–60 Kya.ConclusionThe phylogeography and phylogenomic outcomes suggest recognition of three ‘Evolutionary Significant Units (ESUs)’ in Indian rhino. With ongoing genetic isolation of the current populations, future management efforts should focus on identifying genetically variable founder animals and consider periodic supplementation events while planning future rhino reintroduction programs in India. Such well-informed, multidisciplinary approach will be the only way to ensure evolutionary, ecological and demographic stability of the species across its range.

Postoccupancy evaluation of staff, visitors, and three species of animals in a zoo setting.

Postoccupancy evaluation (POE) was used to assess newly constructed zoo exhibits from the perspective of three user groups: zoo staff, zoo visitors, and the animals. Staff represents a generally understudied user group in zoo-based POEs. We asked staff to rate the animals' space, the visitors' space, and the staff's space at previous and new exhibits. We also compared zoo visitors' ratings of the animals' behavior and environments, overall exhibit impressions, and the time visitors spent viewing previous and new exhibits. Lastly, we compared activity and space use of a Komodo dragon (Varanus komodoensis), two red pandas (Ailurus fulgens), and one rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) in their previous and new exhibits. Staff rated animal, visitor, and staff areas higher at the new exhibits compared to the previous exhibits. Visitors also rated several factors higher and spent more time at the new exhibits. The most naturalistic exhibit received the most favorable ratings in all categories and animal activity increased visitor stay time. We found that red pandas were less active in their new exhibit, and the Komodo dragon and rhino showed no difference in activity. The red pandas and the Komodo dragon used more available space in their new exhibits; however, we recommend using Electivity index to examine resource preferences for these species, whose enclosure use has been less studied than large mammals. We emphasize the importance of including staff in zoo-based POE, make other recommendations for future POE studies, and discuss various factors that could have influenced our results.

Geospatial Analysis of Habitat Suitability for Greater One-horned Rhino Rhinoceros unicornis (Linnaeus, 1758) in Central lowlands of Nepal using MaxEnt Model

The prime Greater One-horned Rhino’s (Rhinoceros unicornis) habitats include a mosaic of grasses, oxbow lakes, Shorea robusta forests, and alluvial floodplains and the major habitat of this species is riverine grasslands dominated by Imperata cylindrical and riverine forests dominated by Trewia nudiflora. This study was mainly focused on the analysis of habitat suitability of Rhinoceros unicornis in Nawalparasi, Chitwan, and Parsa districts of Nepal. The secondary data such as bioclimatic and topographical variables were collected from relevant sources. Spatial data were processed using various tools of ArcGIS while the presence data were converted using Excel, and analysis was done with Maxent. The results showed that approximately 75.17% (53.32 sq. km) of suitable area is occupied by Chitwan National Park. Similarly, Barandabhar Corridor Forest occupies 7.38% (18.89 sq. km) of the suitable area of the landscape. While, there is no area suitable for Greater One-horned Rhinoceros in Parsa National Park. Among Land Use Land Cover (LULC), the riverbed was found to be the most important variable. Invasion of invasive plants was found to be the most frequent disturbance factor followed by human disturbances and forest fires. Though grassland management is an important part of habitat management, it is highly recommended that the management of waterholes should be done. Protected Area manager should conduct localised habitat suitability assessment once the area is found suitable at the landscape level and further field verification should be done. Invasive plant control measures and alternatives to meet the forest product demand should be promoted.

THE USE OF INTRADERMAL SKIN TESTING AND HYPOSENSITIZATION INJECTIONS TO CONTROL SEASONAL DERMATITIS IN GREATER ONE-HORNED RHINOCEROSES (RHINOCEROS UNICORNIS).

Allergic dermatitis was diagnosed in a 25-yr-old female greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) and her 6-yr-old female offspring by skin biopsy, intradermal skin testing (IDST), and allergen-specific serum IgE testing. Dam and offspring presented with seasonal, erosive, and ulcerative dermatitis affecting the face, legs, and trunk starting at 6 and 2 yr of age, respectively. IDST was performed at the caudal pinnal base using 61 regionally specific allergens. Specific serum allergen responses were detected using Heska's Equine ALLERCEPT® Allergen Panel. Histopathology of the lesions was consistent with an allergic etiology. Injectable allergen-specific immunotherapy was initiated in both animals and within 6 to 18 mon after commencing hyposensitization clinical improvement was noted. This report documents a repeatable methodology for IDST and serological allergen testing for use in rhinoceroses. The hyposensitization protocol detailed here can help guide future treatment protocols.