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Asian rhino

Indian rhinoceros
Scientific name:
greater one-horned rhino: Rhinoceros unicornis
Sumatran rhino: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis
Javan rhino: Rhinoceros sondaicus
Number remaining: Around 2,500 (mainly greater one-horned)
Extinction risk:
Greater one-horned rhino: vulnerable
Sumatran rhino: critically endangered
Javan rhino: critically endangered
Habitat: forest, grassland and marshland across Asia

About Asian rhinos

There are three species of Asian rhino:

  • the greater one horned rhino
  • the Javan rhino
  • the Sumatran rhino

Having once roamed across most of Asia, they’re now found in just five countries:

  • India
  • Nepal
  • Bhutan
  • Indonesia
  • Malaysia

Because of all the folds in their skin, Asian rhinos have a more armoured look than their counterparts in Africa. Despite their hefty appearance, Asian rhinos are excellent swimmers and can easily swim across rivers. They’re vegetarians, grazing on tall grasses, shrubs, leaves and some fruits. The greater one-horned rhino and the Javan rhino only have one horn, while the Sumatran has two.

The main threats to Asian rhinos are poaching for their horns and loss of habitat.

Find out how you can help save Asian rhinos


Why Asian rhinos matter

Sumatran rhino, Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia

Rhinos have been around for millions of years and play a crucial role in their ecosystem. Rhinos are vegetarian and need to eat a large amount of vegetation every day to fuel their energy needs. So they have a big impact on the structure of their habitat.

For example, the greater one-horned rhino helps to maintain close-cropped grasslands near rivers – which are preferable feeding spots for small herbivores, attracting a range of species like chital (spotted deer) and hog deer.

They also disperse the seeds of plants and fruit they’ve eaten, through their faeces. As the Asian rhino’s diet is so varied, it helps many types of vegetation grow in areas that they may not otherwise reach. This helps maintain a healthy, balanced habitat and ecosystem.

Asian rhinos are true landscape engineers. If they disappeared, their habitat would change in structure, and may decline in health. Many other animals – and people – depend on this healthy habitat, so protecting the rhino and its habitat helps other wildlife and people to thrive.

Threats to Asian rhinos

The lush Sumatran forest is home to some of the world’s rarest species

Habitat loss

Asian rhinos are threatened by the loss of their forest, grassland and marshland habitat – mainly due to human settlements, logging and expanding agriculture. They now survive mainly in small, isolated areas – in small populations that can be prone to inbreeding.

A soldier stands guard over four rhino horns seized from poachers. Terai Arc, Nepal

Poaching

Despite an international ban, poaching of Asian rhinos for the illegal trade in their horns is also a threat. For centuries, powdered horn has been used in traditional Asian medicine in the belief that it can treat ailments ranging from hangovers and fevers to cancer. Horns are also purchased and consumed purely as a symbol of wealth and social status. The current demand for rhino horn is primarily from the growing upper and middle classes in Vietnam. 

Sumatran rhinoceros

How WWF is helping protect Asian rhinos

Rhino rangers

Preventing poaching

We’ve been involved in helping Asian rhinos for over four decades. We’re implementing anti-poaching measures in rhino habitats and encouraging the pursuit, capture and prosecution of poachers. We also work with TRAFFIC (the wildlife trade monitoring network) to reduce consumer demand for rhino horn.  

Rhino camp

Protecting Asian rhino habitat

We’re helping to restore, protect and reconnect areas of Asian rhino habitat, so they have more space to roam and are safe when doing so.

We’re also working with communities living in buffer zones around protected areas to help them use their natural resources more sustainably.
 

Sumatran rhino, Way Kambas National Park, Indonesia

Success story: rhino population up over 20%

Nepal’s rhino population increased by over 20% between 2008 and 2011. And Nepal added a new milestone in conservation in 2013 by achieving zero poaching of rhinos, tigers and elephants for the year.

At a time when rhinos are being rampantly poached around the world, this success resounds hope for wildlife and underscores Nepal’s commitment to build a more secure future for its iconic species. This is the second time that Nepal celebrates zero poaching - the first being in 2011 which achieved zero poaching of rhinos for the first time in 20 years.

This landmark achievement is down to a collaborative effort between conservation partners, local communities, the government of Nepal, and law enforcement authorities in the country. It shows that with the right efforts poaching can be prevented.

How you can help protect Asian rhinos