Behaviour of post released translocated greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) at Manas National Park, Assam, India

Abstract

A post-release study of the behaviour of 10 greater one-horned rhinoceros’ (Rhinoceros unicornis) translocated to Manas National Park, Assam, India was carried out to understand how each individual rhino behaves in a new environement. Distinct seasonal variation in activity was observed among the released rhinos. Maximum grazing activity was observed in the monsoon (June–September) and retreating monsoon (October–November) seasons while it was observed that the grazing rate decreased during the dry winter season (December–February). In the winter season, browsing activity was observed to increase. Resting activity was maximum during the winter and pre-monsoon (March–May) seasons. Walking activity of adult females and calves increased in the monsoon season, and was higher than that of adult males. It was observed that adult males wallowed more frequently during the monsoon season than adult females and calves. It was further observed that rhinos not only wallow for thermoregulatory purposes, but also readily eat aquatic plants. There was no drastic difference between behaviour patterns of translocated rhinos at Manas National Park and those of resident rhinos in Assam and Nepal. The rhinos’ overall behaviour in the different seasons indicated that the translocated rhino population has adapted well at Manas National Park. © 2017, International Union for Conservation of Nature and Natural Resources. All rights reserved.

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58 Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017
Abstract
A post-release study of the behaviour of 10 greater one-horned rhinoceros’ (Rhinoceros unicornis)
translocated to Manas National Park, Assam, India was carried out to understand how each individual
rhino behaves in a new environement. Distinct seasonal variation in activity was observed among the
released rhinos. Maximum grazing activity was observed in the monsoon (June–September) and retreating
monsoon (October–November) seasons while it was observed that the grazing rate decreased during
the dry winter season (December–February). In the winter season, browsing activity was observed to
increase. Resting activity was maximum during the winter and pre-monsoon (March–May) seasons.
Walking activity of adult females and calves increased in the monsoon season, and was higher than that
of adult males. It was observed that adult males wallowed more frequently during the monsoon season
than adult females and calves. It was further observed that rhinos not only wallow for thermoregulatory
purposes, but also readily eat aquatic plants. There was no drastic dierence between behaviour patterns
of translocated rhinos at Manas National Park and those of resident rhinos in Assam and Nepal. The
rhinos’ overall behaviour in the dierent seasons indicated that the translocated rhino population has
adapted well at Manas National Park.
Résumé
Une étude du comportement de 10 grands rhinocéros unicornes (Rhinoceros unicornis) transloqués au parc
national de Manas dans l’Assam, en Inde, après leur libération a été réalisée pour comprendre comment
chaque rhinocéros individuel se comporte dans un nouvel environnement. On a observé une variation
saisonnière distincte de l’activité chez les rhinocéros libérés. On a observé une activité de pâturage maximale
dans les saisons de la mousson (juin-septembre) et dans celle de la décroissance de la mousson (octobre-
novembre) alors que l’on a observé que le taux de pâturage a diminué pendant la saison sèche d’hiver
(décembre-février). En hiver, on a observé une augmentation de l’activité de brout. L’activité de repos a
été maximale pendant les saisons d’hiver et de pré-mousson (mars-mai). L’activité de marche des femelles
adultes et des bébés rhinocéros a augmenté pendant la saison de la mousson étant plus élevée que celle des
mâles adultes. On a observé que les mâles adultes se vautraient plus fréquemment pendant la saison de la
mousson que les femelles adultes ou les bébés rhinocéros. On a également observé que les rhinocéros se
vautrent non seulement à des ns thermorégulatrices, mais aussi qu’ils consomment facilement des plantes
aquatiques. Il n’y avait pas de diérence drastique entre les comportements des rhinocéros transloqués
au parc national de Manas et ceux des rhinocéros résidents dans l’Assam et au Népal. Le comportement
général des rhinocéros dans les diérentes saisons indique que la population des rhinocéros transloqués
s’est bien adaptée au parc national Manas.
Behaviour of post released translocated greater one-horned
rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) at Manas National Park,
Assam, India
Deba Kumar Dutta1*, Amit Sharma2, Rita Mahanta3 and Anindya Swargowari4
1WWF‐India, North Bank Landscape Conservation Program Ofce, Parvati Nagar, Tezpur 784001, Assam, India
2WWF-India, Guwahati Project Ofce, Block A16, Flat No. 103, Basistha, Guwahati 781029, Assam, India
3Department of Zoology, Cotton College, Guwahati-1 781001, Assam, India
4Department of Forests, Bodoland Territorial Council (BTC), Kokrajhar 783370, Assam, India
*corresponding author: debakumerdutta@gmail.com

Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017 59
Behaviour of post released translocated greater one-horned rhinoceros at Manas National Park, Assam
Introduction
Translocation is the intentional release of an animal
to the wild in an attempt to establish, re-establish
or augment the population, either to introduce a
non-native species or to restore a native species
extirpated due to poaching or hunting (Grith et
al. 1989). It is a valuable tool for the recovery of
species that have become either globally or locally
extinct in their natural wild habitat (Sankar et
al. 2010). Following release, it is imperative to
observe animal behaviour in the new environment
(IUCN 2012). Translocation is routine in some
African range states and has played a vital role in
increasing numbers of both white and black rhinos.
There have been a few attempts of relocation of
the greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros
unicornis; hereafter ‘GoH’) in Nepal and India,
but there is much scope for research in this respect.
Newly-released rhinos (under wild-to-wild
translocation programs) need extensive monitoring
after release to determine the extent of their
movement, and patterns of dispersal and habitat
use (e.g. of water sources, and feeding patterns
in dierent habitat types) at dierent times after
release and in dierent seasons. To this end, the
behaviour of translocated GoH in Manas National
Park (MNP), India was systematically studied in
order to gain a scientic understanding of their
adaptation in the new habitat. The results, presented
in this study, will aid future efforts of GoH
translocation, as well as assist MNP authorities to
prepare a rhino conservation strategy, in order to
to maintain a viable GoH population in the Park.
Study area
Manas National Park is the core areas of the
Manas Tiger Reserve and a UNESCO World
Heritage Site. MNP is located in the foothills
of the Himalayas in the northern Brahmaputra
Valley and is situated between latitude 26˚30´ N
and 27˚00´ N and longitude 91˚51´ E and 92˚00´
E (Figure 1; see colour plates: page i). The climate
is tropical. The monsoon (June–September) is
the hottest and wettest period of the year, while
winter (December–February) is characterized by
cool weather and fog. The pre-monsoon season
(March–May) and the retreating monsoon
(October–November) are transitional periods
(Barthakur 1986). Averages monthly values for
temperature and rainfall range between 27 ± 6˚C and
2860 mm, respectively, during the monsoon and 20 ±
5˚C and 114 mm, respectively, during winter months.
The Park is situated in foothills gently sloping
southward from 250 m down to 50 m above sea level.
Almost half the Park consistes of alluvial grasslands;
the remainder is a mix of semi-evergreen and moist
and dry deciduous forest. The northern belt contains
extensive grassland areas and is at and well drained.
The area along the southern boundary receives water
from streams that drain across the Park from north to
south, and is often waterlogged during the monsoon
rains. The Manas-Beki river system is one of largest
northbank tributaries of river Brahmaputra ,owing
through the Manas National Park by providing
perennial water to the park and forming crucial habitat
for freshwater sh, aquatic migratory birds and wild
bualos. MNP is famous for its rich oral and faunal
biodiversity, including species such as tiger (Panthera
tigris tigris), pygmy hog (Sus salvanius), golden
langur (Trachypithecus geei), hispid hare (Caprolagus
hispidus), Bengal orican (Houbarogsis bangalensis),
and white-winged wood duck (Cairina scutulata).
Administratively, the MNP falls within the districts
of Chirang and Baksa of Assam on the international
boundary between India and Bhutan. It comprises
three range areas, namely, from west to east: Panbari,
Bansbari, and Bhuyanpara, each with its own range
oce where sta are based. The MNP is bounded to
the north by Royal Manas National Park of Bhutan
and to the east and west by buer zones of the Manas
Tiger Reserve. The southern boundary of the MNP is
continguous with densely populated agricultural areas
and there are 61 villages located within 2 km of the
southern boundary of the Park. Rice paddy cultivation
is the principal economic activity.
Manas National Park has suitable rhino habitat and,
prior to 1989, there was a population of over a hundred
rhinos. The entire population of MNP was wiped out
due to poaching in the early 1990s (Dutta et al. 2015).
In 2005, the government of Assam, with support from
the International Rhino Foundation (IRF), World Wide
Fund for Nature (WWF) and the United States Fish
and Wildlife Service (USFWS), launched the Indian
Rhino Vision 2020 (IRV2020) to help in maintaining the
existing rhino populations in Assam and to translocate
rhinos into protected areas from which they had been
exterminated in the recent past. The program aimed at
achieving a population of 3,000 rhinos in Assam by the
year 2020, in seven protected areas. Under IRV 2020, 18

60 Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017
Dutta et al.
rhinos were translocated from Kaziranga National
Park (KNP) and Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary
(PWS) to MNP between April 2008 and March
2012 (Dutta et al. 2015).
Materials and methods
In the translocation programme, a total 18 rhinos
were released at MNP in between 2008 and 2012:
10 rhinos from PWS and eight from KNP (Table 1).
As some of the rhinos chose to live in logistically
dicult to access areas of park, only 10 rhinos
could be monitored: three adult males (R1, R2 and
R5), three adult females with calves (R3 with calf
R4, R6 with calf R7, and R13 with calf R14) and
one solitary female (R8) (See Photographs 1, 2,
3, 4, 7 and 8: colour plates: page ii).
Rhinos were radio collared with very high
frequency (VHF) radio collars (African Wildlife
Tracking) at capture sites (KNP and PWS).
Tracking of the rhinos was carried out using
directional antennae (Telonics RA-14K antennae,
148–152 MHz) and VHF radio receiver to record
the data (Communication Specialists, R-1000
receiver, 148–152 MHz). A directional compass
was used to triangulate rhino locations in dense
and tall vegetation and Windows software
LocateII and Locate III was used to obtain spatial
information. Five pairs of camera traps were used
to observe rhinos in some of the more inaccessable
areas. Rhinos were ear-notched as per IUCN-AsRSG
methods at the capture site for better identication after
the radio collar stopped functioning.
Immediately upon release, rhinos were located three
times daily, in the morning (6–10 am), afternoon (10
am–2 pm) and evening (2–6 pm). Sometimes, they
were also located at night (6 pm–6 am), depending on
accessibility. During the monitoring process, patrolling
elephants were used, as well as four-wheel jeep, motor
bikes and bicycles; sometimes the researcher went
on foot to track the rhinoceros and establish GPS
coordinates (see colour plates: page ii, Photograph 9).
The monitoring data were collected by the homing-
in technique and, when the terrain was impassable,
GPS coordinates and rhino locations were obtained
by triangulation.
Focal behaviour sampling (Altman 1974) was conducted
whenever a direct observation was possible. Following
this method, which focuses on a particular behaviour
rather than a particular animal, all occurrences of
specied actions of one individual were recorded during
a predetermined sample of one hour. Behavioural
categories were broadly dened as: grazing, wallowing,
walking, browsing, and resting (Table 2). Behavioural
states were recorded if they lasted more than one minute
(Kandel 2008). All data were recorded and analysed
with support of MS Excel.
Batch
no.
Translocated rhinos Place of
origin
Date of
release
No. Description Code nos.
1 2 Two adult males R1, R2 PWS 12 Apr 2008
2 2 Adult female with female calf R3, R4 PWS 28 Dec 2010
34
Adult female with male calf
One adult male
One adult female
R6, R7
R5
R8
PWS 18 Jan 2011
4 2 Two adult females R9, R10 PWS 9 Jan 2012
54Adult female with female calf
Adult female with male calf
R12, R11
R13, R14 KNP 20 Jan 2012
6 4 Adult females with male calf
Adult female with male calf
R15, R16
R17, R18 KNP 12 Jan 2012
Table 1. Details of greater one-horned rhinos translocated to Manas National Park
under the program Indian Rhino Vision 2020. PWS: Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary;
KNP: Kaziranga National Park

Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017 61
Behaviour of post released translocated greater one-horned rhinoceros at Manas National Park, Assam
Type of
behaviour Description
1 Grazing Approaches grasses and takes into mouth (Laurie 1982;
Jnawali 1995)
2 Browsing Approaches bush, tree twigs, takes into the mouth.
(Laurie 1982; Owen-Smith 1988)
3Wallowing Almost all parts of body dip into mud and water (Laurie
1982; Dinerstein 2003; Hazarika & Saikia 2012)
4 Resting Animal is in resting position (lying and sitting) inactive
and relaxed (Laurie 1982)
5Walking Animal moves forward attentively (Laurie 1982;
Dinerstein 2003)
Table 2. Ethogram of rhino behaviour
Results: Seasonal activity patterns of rhinos
Pre-monsoon period. In this period (March–May), rhinos were tracked 1,326 times and observed 1,089 times
(82%). Adult males, adult females and calves were observed on 425 (32%), 398 (30%) and 266 (20%) occasions
respectively. Researchers were unable to locate rhinos on 237 (18%) occasions due to dicult terrain and/or
dense vegetation and when rhinos were wallowing. There were no marked behavioural variations observed
among the three age/sex groups, based on the average time engaged in dierent activities as a proportion of
total observation time (Fig. 2, Table 3).
Figure 2. Comparative activity patterns of translocated rhinos in Manas National Park, India:
pre-monsoon season (see Table 2 for descriptions of activity patterns).

62 Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017
Dutta et al.
Pre-monsoon Monsoon
Activity Adult males Adult females Calves Adult males Adult females Calves
Grazing 44 ± 6 61 ± 2.6 61 ± 3 54 ± 4.2 69 ± 4 59 ± 1.4
Browsing 12 ± 2.07 6 ± 1.8 6 ± 0 0 0 5 ± 3.2
Resting 6 ± 3 6 ± 1.5 6 ± 3 1 ± 0.5 4 ± 2 6 ± 1.4
Walking 13 ± 1.6 17 ± 5 17 ± 5 20 ± 4 17 ± 4 24 ± 13.1
Wallowing 25 ± 6.3 10 ± 0.4 10 ± 3 25 ± 1.3 10 ± 1 6 ± 2
Table 3. Time (mean ± SD) engaged in different activites by translocated greater one-horned
rhinos in the Manas National Park, India, as a percentage of total observation time, during pre-
monsoon and monsoon seasons
Monsoon period. During the monsoon (May–September), rhinos were tracked 1,840 times, and observed 1,323
times (72%). Adult males, adult females and calves were observed on 654 (49%), 367 (28%) and 302 (23%)
occasions respectively. Researchers were unable to locate rhinos on 517 (28%) occasions (Table 3). During the
monsoon a non-uniform pattern of behaviour was observed among all aged groups (Fig. 3).
Figure 3. Comparative activity patterns of translocated rhinos in Manas National Park, India:
monsoon season.
Retreating monsoon. This is a short season (October–November). During this period, rhinos were tracked
642 times and observed 491 times (76%). Adult males, adult females and calves were observed on 186 (38%),
171 (35%) and 134 (27%) occasions respectively. Researchers were unable to locate rhinos on 152 (24%)
occasions (Table 4). During this season no specic behavioural variations were observed among the three
groups of rhinos (Fig. 4).

Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017 63
Behaviour of post released translocated greater one-horned rhinoceros at Manas National Park, Assam
Retreating monsoon Winter
Activity Adult males Adult females Calves Adult males Adult females Calves
Grazing 65 ± 4 67 ± 9 83 ± 1.6 37 ± 3.25 51 ± 3.3 53 ± 2.7
Browsing 13 ± 7 0 1 ± 0.8 23 ± 2.1 12 ± 7.05 10 ± 3.2
Resting 2 ± 1 1 ± 1 3 ± 1 11 ± 2.1 5 ± 1.9 8 ± 1.04
Walking 12 ± 4 20 ± 10 9 ± 3 15 ± 3 23 ± 4.06 20 ± 3
Wallowing 8 ± 5 12 ± 4 4 ± 2.4 14 ± 0.7 9 ± 1.9 9 ± 2.1
Table 4. Time (mean ± SD) engaged in different activites by translocated greater one-horned rhinos
in the Manas National Park, India, as a percentage of total observation time, during retreating
monsoon and winter seasons
Figure 4. Comparative activity patterns of translocated rhinos in Manas National Park, India:
retreating monsoon season.
Winter season. During the dry winter season (December–February), rhinos were tracked 1,133 times and
observed 808 (71%) times. Adult males, adult females and calves were observed on 464 (57%), 161 (20%) and
183 (23%) occasions respectively. Researchers were unable to locate rhinos on 325 (29%) occasions (Table 4).
During the winter season distinct variations in behaviour were observed among the all aged groups of rhinos
(Fig. 5).

64 Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017
Dutta et al.
Figure 5. Comparative activity patterns of translocated rhinos in Manas National Park, India:
winter season.
Discussion
Following their release, all rhinos started to explore
their surroundings to nd the most suitable habitat
in and around the release site. It is assumed that this
exploration might help rhinos to become familiar
with and gradually settle in their new environment
(Dutta et al. 2015). According to Tal and Saltz (2014),
a reintroduced animal changes its behaviour when it
becomes more familiar with the new environment.
Because adult male rhinos R1 and R2 were rst to
be introduced at MNP, they directly or indirectly
inuenced the establishment of home ranges and
the behaviour of the later released rhinos.
The three adult males (R1, R2 and R5) and four
adult females (R3, R6, R8 and R13) monitored had
overlapping range areas in Bansbari and Bhuyanpara
ranges. Adult males R1 and R2 maintained loosely
dened territories in Bansbari range. Adult male
R5, which was introduced 3 years later, mainly
stayed in the easternmost parts of Bhuyanpara range,
occasionally visiting the eastern part of Bansbari
to seek the company of adult females. Fighting
incidents were very common among males when
they confronted each other. In these ghts, R5 was
always a loser and then moved away from territories
occupied by R1 and R2.
Following release of the females and their calves
they were frequently seen in association with
dominant males, for example in feeding and wallowing
activities. However in response to domineering behaviour
by the males, the females and their calves subsequently
moved away from the male territories to areas where
they had more solitude. Adult female R8 (without calf)
frequently changed her location in the period following
her release. Later, she established an association with
adult male R2.
A distinct seasonal variation in activity was observed
among rhinos. Maximum grazing activity was observed
in the monsoon and in the retreating-monsoon season, and
minimum grazing during the winter season. According to
Laurie (1982), the activity pattern of rhinos depends on
factors such as diet and abundance of food resources. In
Rajiv Gandhi Orang National Park, Assam (RGONP),
Hazarika et al. (2013) found that there was less grazing in
the monsoon season when oods prevented rhinos from
grazing. MNP does not experience ooding problems
and the availability of food resources peaked during the
monsoon and retreating monsoon. During the dry season,
food and water are limited, and minimum grazing activity
was observed. However, browsing activity increased in
this season among all age groups of rhinos. While the GoH
is primarily a grazer, it is able to turn to browsing when
availability of grasses are limited. During the entire period,
the browsing activity of adult males was comparatively
greater than that of adult females and calves.
Resting activity was at a maximum during the dry winter

Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017 65
Behaviour of post released translocated greater one-horned rhinoceros at Manas National Park, Assam
season and the pre-monsoon season. Maximum
resting activity was observed among adult males
during winter, and in rhino calves during the pre-
monsoon season. In their new habitat, adult males
were observed to move from one place to another
in search of a female companion. It is natural that
they would be more exploratory when there were
so few rhinos in such a vast area. Dinerstein (2003)
suggests that adult males spend much energy in
defending their territory and keeping track of
females, so they do not have much time for feeding
but they have to devote time to resting.
Throughout the study period, maximum walking
activity was observed in the monsoon season and
it was highest among adult females with calves.
Wallowing was the dominating activity after
grazing among translocated rhinos at MNP, with
increased wallowing in the monsoon season, and
adult males wallowed more often than adult females
and calves. Laurie (1982), Owen-Smith (1988),
Patar (2004), Dinerstein (2003) and Hazarika et
al. (2013) all suggest that wallowing may be a
part of behavioural adjustment to heat stress. It
was observed that rhinos wallowed in all seasons
but wallowing activity was greatest during the hot
monsoon season. At RGONP, maximum wallowing
activity was reported during monsoon 41.3%
(Hazarika et al. 2013). Similar kinds of wallowing
behaviour were also found by Laurie (1982), Dutta
(1991), Jnawali (1995), Dinerstein (2003), Patar
(2004) and Bhattacharya (2011).
Dutta (1991) described that rhinos prefer to
wallow in mud or static water bodies, but never
in running water like streams or river. In contrast
to this nding, translocated rhinos in MNP were
observed to wallow in running water channels
regularly in both Bansbari and Bhuyanpara ranges.
During winter season, when water sources dried up,
rhinos (and other animals in the Park) depended on
perennial water sources. In Bansbari range, a total
of 28 water sources and in Bhuyanpara range 14
perennial water sources were regularly observed to
be used by rhinos.
Rhinos sometimes ate aquatic plants found
along the shallow river bottoms and then moved
outside the national park boundary. During the
pre-monsoon season, adult males along with adult
females in the Bansbari range moved outside the
Park boundary, and entered shallow water bodies
to the south of the Park to feed aquatic weeds.
These plants include species like Hydrilla verticillata,
Hydrocotyle sibthropioides, Pistia stratiotes, Vallisneria
spiralis, Hymenachne psudointerrupta, Lemna perpusilla,
Leersia hexandra, etc. This study has shown that rhinos
not only wallow for thermoregulatory purposes, but also
display a preference for aquatic plants. So, there is ample
scope to study wallowing time and behaviour, as well as
wallowing locations, in the future.
It was found that there was no marked dierences in
behaviour patterns of translocated rhinos at MNP and
behaviour of other wild rhinos reported by Laurie (1982),
Jnawali (1995) and Dinerstein (2003) in Nepal, and Dutta
(1991), Patar (2004), Bhattacharya (2011) and Hazarika
et al. (2012, 2013) in Assam. The overall behaviour
budgeting as well as preferences of dierent habitat or
births of new born calves indicated that translocated rhinos
have adapted well in MNP.
Conclusion
The establishment of a new GoH population at MNP
through the wild-to-wild translocation program under
Indian Rhino Vision 2020 opened up a new dimension
in conservation eorts for this magnicent pachyderm.
It can be expected that rhinos translocation program at
MNP will also contribute to the mixing of genes from
individuals from PWS and KNP populations. These
behaviour observations maybe helpful in other countries
where there are plans to establish new populations of
GoH in the near future.
In MNP, improvement of protection as well as
patrolling infrastructure and continuous community
support of conservation helps to secure the situation of
MNP. Swargowari (2012) stated that the rhino introduction
program contributed much to an increase in ecosystem
integrity, when rhinos were present alongside other wild
animals including elephants, tigers and wild bualos.
The GoH population at MNP is doing well and the
rhinos have started breeding. However, while the newly
established population is doing well, poaching remains
a signicant threat. During 2011–2016, 10 translocated
rhinos were poached including 4 (R1, R2, R5 and R8) of
the studied animals. Three of these animals were adult
males, which is likely to aect population growth pattern
of newly established rhinos. A population viability analysis
by IUCN Conservation Breeding Specialist Groups carried
out in 2015 indicated that unless poaching is eradicated,
continued reintroduction of rhinos is unlikely to result
in a viable population in MNP and the rhino population
faces threat of extinction in the next two to three decades.

66 Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017
Dutta et al.
Therefore, more intervention is required for the
improvement of the entire protection system of
the National Park near future. Only the improved
protection will enable the breeding rhino population
at MNP to survive and grow.
Acknowledgements
The authors duly acknowledge the Government of
Assam, Task Force and all the members of Rhino
Translocation Core Committee and Chief Wildlife
Warden of Assam. Thanks also to Mr MC Malakar,
Mr Suresh Chand, Mr RP Agarwal, Mr OP Pandey
(Chief Wildlife Warden of Assam), Mr BS Bonal,
Mr SP Singh, Mr SS Rao, Mr Ravi Singh, CEO
and Secretary General of WWF-India, Dr Dipankar
Ghose, WWF-India, Dr A Christy Williams,
WWF-International, Dr Anupam Sarmah, WWF-
India, Mr H Choudhury and Dr Jayanta Das from
WADWT; Mr GC Basumatary, Mr AC Das, Mr CR
Bhobora, Dr Sonali Ghose, Dr Bibhab Talukdar
and Mr Khampa Borgoyari, (Deputy Chief BTC),
for their continued support, encouragement and
advice. The literature cited is accessible at www.
rhinoresourcecenter.com.
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Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017 i
Right: See Gyöngyi and Elmeros:
Forage choice of the reintroduced black
rhino and the availability of slected
browse species at Majete Wildlife
Reserve, Malawi. pp. 40-50
Figure 1. Location of sample plots
(yellow ags) for study of availability
of browse plants in the Majete Wildlife
Reserve, Malawi, superimposed on a
vegetation map of the Reserve (Sherry
1989). Coordinates are in UTM units.
Brown line: Reserve boundary; Red
line: Rhino Sanctuary boundary; Blue
line: Pende sub-unit boundary.
Source: courtesy of African Parks
Left: See Dutta et al.: Behaviour of
post released translocated greater
one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros
unicornis) at Manas National Park,
Assam, India. pp. 58-66
Figure 1. Location of Manas National
Park.
Source: courtesy of WWF-India
COLOUR PLATES

ii Pachyderm No. 58 July 2016–June 2017
Colour plates
See Dutta et al.: Behaviour of post released translocated
greater one-horned rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) at Manas
National Park, Assam, India. pp. 58-66
Images clockwise from above right:
Photograph 1. Rhino R1 (Sat hazar), adult male
Photograph 2. Rhino R2 (Iragdao), adult male
Photograph 3. Rhino R3 (Laisri), adult female
Photograph 4. Rhino R6 (Xavira), adult female & rhino R7
(Syria), male calf
Photograph 7. Rhino-13 (Swamli), adult female & rhino R14
(Adidiga), male calf
Photograph 8. Rhino R5 (Manas), adult male
Photograph 9. Rhino monitoring team with elephants crossing
the Kasimdaha River