Study on Group Size and Group Composition of Great Indian one Horned Rhinoceros (R.Unicornis,Linn.) at Gorumara, Jaldapara and Kaziranga National Parks, India

Greater one horned rhinos are to some extent solitary in nature and they do not maintain any particular group size and age-sex composition in the groups. The group sizes are very much flexible, only excepting mother-calf association. Over all rhino groups consisting of five, six, seven and eight members were rarely seen in all the three study areas in comparison to single, dyads, triplets and quadruple groups. However, Kaziranga rhinos are comparatively a bit pseudo-social because of higher population density. Most probably they form superficial temporary associations during grazing or wallowing. Group size consisting of six, seven and eight members are totally absent at Gorumara and Jaldapara. The bulk of the group sizes observed at Gorumara and Jaldapara were single, dyads and triplets which attained almost 96 % and 97 % respectively. On the other hand, Kaziranga rhinos were seen in four, five, six, seven and eight groups comprising of more than 12 % sighting records. The age-sex composition in larger groups were seen changing frequently. The all male groups sometimes formed temporary associations usually roamed at the periphery with a greater home range particularly at Gorumara and Jaldapara.