Chitwan National Park - Wildlife

Contrary to common belief this horn is not used for fighting; its biological function remains unexplained. Mankind, on the other hand, has found many uses for it, especially as a remedy for fever and as an aphrodisiac. In medieval Europe cups were made of rhino horn as protection against poison, in Arabia it adorned dagger-hilts, and in India and Nepal it supplied the ear-rings of Yanpatha yogis (masters of Yanpatha yoga).

After the rhino the Bengal tiger (Panthera tigris) is probably Chitwan's most impressive creature. Of the world's remaining population of 3000 tigers, 60 live here in the park. Fully grown these magnificent animals weigh between 180-200 kg and measure 3 m (10 ft) from nose to tail. Some have been known to reach 300 kg and 3.5 m (111/2 ft). Females are generally smaller. Tigers are territorial by nature, taking possession of an area large enough to feed themselves and their offspring - in Chitwan this is about 25 sq. km (91/2 sq. mi.). A male's territory normally covers that of two to four tigresses; but one particularly powerful male has a harem of eight. Territories are marked out with urine and scratch-marks to warn off other tigers of the same sex.

Although tigresses commonly bear two or three young, only a small proportion of the cubs reach adulthood. The limiting factor is Chitwan's ability to support them. The fall in numbers was not caused by hunting but by destruction of habitat. In the 1960s the tiger population dropped from 300 individuals to 50; today there are nearly 100. Tigers chiefly prey on sambar and axis deer, but small deer, wild boar and monkeys are also taken.

Standing 1.5 m (5 ft) at the shoulder, sambar deer (Cervus unicolor) are the largest of all the varieties of red deer found in Southern and South-east Asia. Sambar normally weigh about 200 kg, but the record in Chitwan is 350 kg. Their color changes with the season - gray to dark brown in winter and chestnut brown in summer. They are usually seen in small groups in the sal forest.

In contrast to the sambar the axis deer (Axis axis) favors open ground where potential predators can be spotted in good time. They tend to congregate in large herds on the savannah. Sometimes they gather under trees occupied by monkeys, taking advantage of the falling fruit and the monkeys' early warning system at the approach of danger.

The hog deer (Axis porcinus) takes its name from its curious motion. Instead of the graceful leap typical of most deer it runs in a hunched fashion with head down like a wild boar.

Muntjak (Muntiacus muntjak) are also known as barking deer because of their dog-like alarm call. They are the smallest deer in Chitwan, often seen grazing alone in the sal forest.

Chitwan's reptile population of course includes snakes - python and cobra among them. Two species of crocodile are indigenous to the flood plains. The marsh crocodile (Crocodylus palustris), also called mugger, inhabits waterholes and river courses. The long-muzzled gavial (Gavialis gangeticus), which grows up to 7 m (23 ft) in length, is found only in rivers. This species was close to extinction in Chitwan and despite the Gavial Breeding Project is still very seldom seen. Snakes, like crocodiles, normally keep well out of the way.