Searching for the rare ‘unicorn’ rhino in Nepal’s Chitwan National Park

Historically a royal hunting ground, Nepal‘s Chitwan National Park is now a highly protected wildlife sanctuary. In this Earth Touch video from 2014, filmmakers travel to the sanctuary to film and photograph the rare and vulnerable Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), also called the greater one-horned rhinoceros. We first spot the semi-aquatic animal immersed in water, where they cool themselves and graze on floating and underwater plants. From Rhinos.org:

Greater one-horned rhino numbers have recovered from fewer than 200 earlier in the 20th century to as many as 3,550 today, thanks to strict protection from Indian and Nepalese wildlife authorities.

The greater one-horned rhino is one of the two greatest success stories in rhino conservation. However, poaching pressure remains high. The species’ recovery is still precarious and depends on effective conservation efforts throughout its range.

Next, see a baby Indian one-horned rhino at the Bronx Zoo, find out what it’s like to care for eastern black rhinos, and by the way: What does a baby rhino sound like?