Beijing: The giant rhino, Paraceratherium, was the largest land mammal that ever lived and was found primarily in Asia, particularly in China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. However, it was long unknown how this genus spread across Asia. A recent discovery has shed new light on this process.
According to a study published in the journal "Communications Biology," Prof. DENG Tao of the Chinese Academy of Sciences' Institute of Vertebrate Paleontology and Paleoanthropology (IVPP) and his collaborators from China and the United States recently reported a new species, Paraceratherium linxiaense sp. nov., which offers important clues to the dispersal of giant rhinos across Asia.
The new species' fossils comprise a completely preserved skull and mandible with their associated atlas, as well as an axis and two thoracic vertebrae from another individual. The fossils were recovered from the Late Oligocene deposits of the Linxia Basin in Gansu Province, China, which is located on the northeastern border of the Tibetan Plateau.
Phylogenetic analysis yielded a single most parsimonious tree, which places P. linxiaense as a derived giant rhino, within the monophyletic clade of the Oligocene Asian Paraceratherium. Within the Paraceratherium clade, the researchers' phylogenetic analysis produced a series of progressively more-derived species--from P. grangeri, through P. huangheense, P. asiaticum, and P. bugtiense--finally terminating in P. lepidum and P. linxiaense. P. linxiaense is at a high level of specialization, similar to P. lepidum, and both are derived from P. bugtiense. Adaptation of the atlas and axis to the large body and long neck of the giant rhino already characterized P. grangeri and P. bugtiense, and was further developed in P. linxiaense, whose atlas is elongated, indicative of a long neck and higher axis with a nearly horizontal position for its posterior articular face. These features are correlated with a more flexible neck.
The giant rhino of western Pakistan is from the Oligocene strata, representing a single species, Paraceratherium bugtiense. On the other hand, the rest of the genus Paraceratherium, which is distributed across the Mongolian Plateau, northwestern China, and the area north of the Tibetan Plateau to Kazakhstan, is highly diversified.
The researchers found that all six species of Paraceratherium are sisters to Aralotherium and form a monophyletic clade in which P. grangeri is the most primitive, succeeded by P. huangheense and P. asiaticum.
The researchers were thus able to determine that, in the Early Oligocene, P. asiaticum dispersed westward to Kazakhstan and its descendant lineage expanded to South Asia as P. bugtiense. In the Late Oligocene, Paraceratherium returned northward, crossing the Tibetan area to produce P. lepidium to the west in Kazakhstan and P. linxiaense to the east in the Linxia Basin.
The researchers noted the aridity of the Early Oligocene in Central Asia at a time when South Asia was relatively moist, with a mosaic of forested and open landscapes. "Late Oligocene tropical conditions allowed the giant rhino to return northward to Central Asia, implying that the Tibetan region was still not uplifted as a high-elevation plateau," said Prof. DENG. During the Oligocene, the giant rhino could obviously disperse freely from the Mongolian Plateau to South Asia along the eastern coast of the Tethys Ocean and perhaps through Tibet. The topographical possibility that the giant rhino crossed the Tibetan area to reach the Indian-Pakistani subcontinent in the Oligocene can also be supported by other evidence. Up to the Late Oligocene, the evolution and migration from P. bugtiense to P. linxiaense and P. lepidum show that the "Tibetan Plateau" was not yet a barrier to the movement of the largest land mammal. —ANI

 The giant rhino, Paraceratherium, was the largest land mammal that ever lived and was found primarily in Asia, particularly in China, Mongolia, Kazakhstan, and Pakistan. 

Rhinos Dispersed Across South, Central Asia Via Tibet: Study

North Carolina (US): North Carolina State University researchers discovered major differences in the gut microbiota of female southern white rhinos that are breeding well in captivity vs females that are not reproducing successfully in captivity. The findings raise concerns regarding the potential function of a specific genus of gut microorganisms in reducing captive breeding of this rhinoceros species. "Our work focuses on the southern white rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum simum), because while it is not yet endangered, species numbers are declining in the wild due to poaching," says Christina Burnham, first author of a paper on the work and a former graduate student at NC State. "There is a significant population of southern white rhinos under human care in the United States, but there have been challenges in getting many of these animals to reproduce successfully. It is critical we understand why, as the managed rhinos serve as important assurance populations in case wild rhino numbers continue to fall. We wanted to know how the gut microbiome may influence the reproductive ability of these rhinos." To that end, the researchers collected multiple fecal samples from eight female southern white rhinoceroses over a six-month period. The study population consisted of two juveniles; two "subadults" who are no longer nursing but are not yet of reproductive age; two adults who have reproduced successfully; and two adults who have not reproduced successfully. "We wanted to have a robust sample size that would allow us to assess the gut microbiome of females in this species while accounting for age, the time of year and reproductive status," Burnham says. The researchers extracted and sequenced DNA from the fecal samples, which allowed them to identify the diversity and abundance of bacteria in the gut of the study animals. "We found differences between rhinos in each age group," says Erin McKenney, co-author of the study and an assistant professor of applied ecology at NC State. "In other words, microbial communities in the gut microbiome change predictably as animals age from juveniles to subadults to adults. This likely reflects, among other things, changes in the diet and behavior of the animals. This sort of microbiome 'succession' is fairly common in many animal species. And it's important here because it casts the differences we found between reproductively successful adults and reproductively unsuccessful females in stark relief." The researchers found that reproductively successful females had less diversity in the types of microbial species present in their gut microbiome, when compared to the microbiome of reproductively unsuccessful females. The researchers also found that each group of adults was playing host to microbial species that have previously been associated with reproductive health. "One of the microbial families we found at significant levels in reproductively successful adults was Rikenellaceae," Burnham says. "This is of interest because Rikenellaceae has previously been theorized to play a role in helping southern white rhinos break down dietary plant compounds - including phytoestrogens that are associated with limiting reproductive success. "On the other hand, we only saw significant enrichment of Mobiluncus microbes in reproductively unsuccessful adults," Burnham says. "Previous work has found that Mobiluncus is associated with a range of reproductive health problems in a variety of non-rhinoceros species. "However, in those previous studies, Mobiluncus was detected in cervical and vaginal microbiomes. We looked only at the gut microbiome. We hypothesize that the gut may serve as a reservoir for Mobilincus, but we need to collect cervical or vaginal swabs from the adult females we studied to determine whether Mobiluncus may be present in those microbiomes." "Because this was a longitudinal study, we collected multiple samples from each animal over the course of half a year," McKenney says. "And the differences we saw in the gut microbiomes of adult females were consistent over time, which suggests that these differences in microbial communities may be playing an important role in the reproductive health of these animals. That said, we will need to do additional research to determine what that role may be, if any." —ANI

North Carolina State University researchers discovered major differences in the gut microbiota of female southern

Study Reveals How Studying Poop May Help Us Boost White Rhino Populations

New Delhi: The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros population is growing in India, in what could be termed as a bright spot in conservation efforts of the vulnerable species. In neighbouring Nepal too, their population is reported to be growing. In India and Nepal, the Greater One-Horned Rhino population, which once numbered as low as 100 in the early 1900s, has increased to more than 4,014 now. International Rhino Foundation (IRF), in its annual ‘State of the Rhino’ report for 2023 released two days ahead of World Rhino Day, attributed the rise in the One-Horned rhino population to strong protection, wildlife crime law enforcement and habitat expansion. Since 2011, World Rhino Day has been celebrated internationally on September 22. The One-Horned rhino falls under the “vulnerable” category in the International Union for Conservation of Nature (IUCN) list. In India rhinos are found in Assam, parts of West Bengal and Bihar. Poaching of rhinos in Assam, which is home to the majority of the One-Horned rhino population in India, was in the past rampant but stringent surveillance and other elevated security arrangements being put in by the authorities seem to have addressing the issue. “In the past year, the Assam government finalized the addition of approximately 200 sq km to Orang National Park in north-central Assam, more than doubling the size of this protected area and key rhino habitat,” IRF said in its report. With this habitat expansion, the Orang National Park is now connected to Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuary, completing the creation of a linked corridor between all the protected areas in Assam that hold (or are planned to hold) rhinos -- Manas National Park, Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary, Orang National Park, the Laokhowa and Burhachapori Wildlife Sanctuaries and Kaziranga National Park. No rhino poaching incident was reported in Assam in 2022, in comparison 27 each in the years 2013 and 2014. After recording no poaching incidents last year, two poaching cases were reported in 2023, one each in Kaziranga National Park and Manas National Park, the IRF said. To give a clear message to poachers that rhino horns don't attach any medicinal or monetary value, the Assam government has been publicly burning stockpile horns in thousands since September 2022. Nepal too reported zero rhino poaching in 2022. Unfortunately, two rhinos fell prey to poachers in the Chitwan region in January 2023, the International Rhino Foundation report stated. Along with the One-Horned rhino, populations of Black Rhinos globally are increasing despite constant poaching pressure. Though the population of the One-Horned rhino is growing, poaching still threatens all five rhino species and has increased in several regions that had not previously been targeted, IRF noted in its report. South Africa is one such country where poaching continues to devastate their white rhino population, as poachers target the Hluhluwe Imfolozi Game Reserve and other reserves within the KwaZulu-Natal province.  Indonesia’s Ministry of Environment and Forestry has reported a recently discovered unnatural Javan rhino death that is currently under investigation. According to the report, the ministry also reported that 12 of the Javan rhinos were missing. In other bad news, Namibia, home to the largest number of black rhinos in the world, saw a devastating 93 per cent spurt in rhino poaching from 2021 to 2022. “As poaching pressure increases around the continent, the number of white rhinos – the most populous of the five species – continues to decline,” IRF said. It is widely believed but unfounded that rhino horns attach medicinal or monetary value, which prompts poaching activities the world over. The population of white rhinos and Sumatran rhinos, who fall under the “near threatened” and “critically endangered” category, however, have been declining. The Javan rhino population is pegged to be stable at 76, but continues to be “critically endangered”, according to the IRF report. “This World Rhino Day, September 22nd, news about the world’s five rhino species remains mixed. Two species, black rhinos and greater one-horned rhinos, continue to increase in numbers, while two species, white rhinos and Sumatran rhinos, are experiencing declines. The remaining species, the Javan rhino, has an unknown population trend status,” the report said. —ANI

The Greater One-Horned Rhinoceros population is growing in India, in what could be termed as a bright spot in conservation efforts of the vulnerable species

 India’s Rhino Population On The Rise, Stringent Conservation Efforts Continue

Kolkata: West Bengal forest department has taken a unique initiative to expand the area of grasslands for free movement of one-horned rhinos in north Bengal.
According to state forest minister Jyoti Priya Mullick, the grasslands of Jaldapara National Park in Alipurduar district and Gorumara National Park in Jalpaiguri district are two main areas for free movement of these one-horned rhinos. "Now we have created provisions for extending that space at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary in Darjeeling district and Buxa Tiger Reserve in Alipurduar district," he added.
Although Jaldapara National Park and Gorumara National Park are two main abodes of one-horned rhinos in north Bengal, the existence of such species of animals have also been spotted in other jungles in this sector.
"However, those additional spaces do not have enough grassland areas, which are the ideal roaming spaces for the free movement of those one-horned rhinos. So we have expanded the grassland areas at Mahananda Wildlife Sanctuary and Buxa Tiger Reserve,” the state forest minister said.
Besides expanding the grasslands in these new areas, the forest department has also taken initiatives for ensuring the safety of these animals from poachers by setting up necessary infrastructure there.
"Besides setting up watchtowers separately there, initiatives have also been taken to set up separate patrolling- points in those added grasslands areas. Specially trained elephants are being kept at these patrol- points, who will be used for the patrolling purpose,” said a senior official of the state forest department.
Earlier in August this year, the department took an initiative for creating fresh grasslands on 300 hectares of land within Jaldapara National Park alone over an inverted U-shaped area scattered over the western, northern and eastern ranges of the national park.
—IANS

West Bengal forest department has taken a unique initiative to expand the area of grasslands for free movement of one-horned rhinos in north Bengal.

Bengal forest dept scattering areas for free movement of one-horned rhinos

Guwahati: Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said strict action is being taken again poaching of Rhinos in the state which has resulted in zero cases for the first time.
Commemorating the World Rhino Day, the Chief Minister said that rhinos are the prized members of the state's abundant faunal variety.
Taking to ‘X', Sarma wrote, “Rhinos, synonymous with the identity of Assam, are cherished members of the State's rich faunal biodiversity.”
He also asserted that the state government has been giving utmost importance to stop poaching of one-horned rhinoceros in the state.
“The protection of this magnificent animal has been a top priority of Govt of Assam and in the last few years, we have made consistent efforts in this regard which has resulted in zero poaching cases of rhinos in the State for the first time,” the Chief Minister mentioned.
He also said, “On World Rhino Day, let's take a pledge to always champion the cause of saving rhinos, the pride of Assam!”
Every year on September 22, people celebrate World Rhino Day to raise awareness about the various rhinoceros species that exist throughout the globe and the threats they face. World Rhino Day provides a forum for a variety of interested parties, including governments, communities, NGOs, wildlife conservation organizations, research facilities, and concerned individuals, to band together and look for innovative ways to end poaching practices and save some critically endangered rhinoceros species from extinction.
In addition to being the third largest animal, the one-horned rhino is a pride of Assam and is one of the rarest and most unusual mammals in the world.
—IANS

Assam Chief Minister Himanta Biswa Sarma on Friday said strict action is being taken again poaching of Rhinos in the state which

On World Rhino Day, Himanta reaffirms Assam govt’s efforts to stop poaching attempts

Golaghat (Assam): A man sustained injuries in a Rhino attack near the Bokakhat area, close to Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve in Assam's Golaghat district on Saturday.  Sonali Ghosh, Director of Kaziranga National Park and Tiger Reserve, conveyed to ANI over the phone, "I have been informed about the incident. Our team is en route to the location." The incident unfolded at the Difaloopathar area of Bokakhat on Saturday, where a Rhino reportedly attacked a man in a paddy field. Bidyut Borah, Range Officer of Agoratoli Forest Range, confirmed that forest personnel have reached the scene.  The injured individual has been promptly transported to the hospital for medical attention.  Further details are anticipated as the situation unfolds.
—Input from Agencies

In a harrowing incident near Assam's Kaziranga National Park, a man suffered injuries after a sudden Rhino attack in the Bokakhat area.

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Rhinos Dispersed Across South, Central Asia Via Tibet: Study

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Rhinos Dispersed Across South, Central Asia Via Tibet: Study

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