Table 1. List of natural food plant species of rhinos in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Sl. No.

Family

Scientific Name

Local Assamese Name

Habitat types

1

Araceae

Pistia stratiotes Linn.

Barpuni

Aquatic

2

Asteraceae

Enhydra fluctuans Lour.

Helonchi

Aquatic

3

Combretaceae

Terminalia chebula (Gaertn.) Retz.

Silikha

Terrestrial

4

Convolvulaceae

Ipomoea aquatica Forssk.

Kalmou

Aquatic

5

Cyperaceae

Cenchrus ciliaris (Retz.) Koel

Harkata bon

Aquatic

6

Euphorbiaceae

Antidesma ghaesembilla Gaertn.

Helas

Terrestrial

7

Lemnaceae

Lemna perpusilla Torrey.

Harupuni

Aquatic

8

Lythraceae

Lagerstroemia flosreginae Linn.

Azar

Terrestrial

9

Marantaceae

Schumannianthus dichotomus (Robx.) Gangnep.

Patidoi

Aquatic

10

Moraceae

Ficus glomerata Roxb.

Dimoru

Terrestrial

11

Moraceae

Ficus religiosa Linn.

Ahot gach

Terrestrial

12

Moraceae

Streblus asper Lour.

Kharua gach

Terrestrial

13

Myrtaceae

Syzygium fruticosum  DC. 

Khatia Jamuk

Terrestrial

14

Poaceae

Arundo donax Linn.

Nal

Aquatic

15

Poaceae

Hymenachne pseudointerrupta Linn.

Dal ghanh

Aquatic

16

Poaceae

Leersia hexandra Swartz.  

Erali

Aquatic

17

Poaceae

Saccharum arundinaceum Retz.

Meghela

Aquatic

18

Poaceae

Bambusa tulda Robx.

Jati banh

Terrestrial

19

Poaceae

Cynodon dactylon (Linn.) Pers.

Dubari Ban

Terrestrial

20

Poaceae

Hemarthria compressa (Linn. and F.)

Locosa ghanh

Terrestrial

21

Poaceae

Imperata cylindrica (Linn.) Beauv.

Ulukher

Terrestrial

22

Poaceae

Phragmites karka (Retz.) Trin ex Steud

Khagori

Terrestrial

23

Poaceae

Pollinia ciliata Trin.

Hankher

Terrestrial

24

Poaceae

Saccharum elephantinus Robx.

Borota kher

Terrestrial

25

Poaceae

Saccharum ravannae (Linn.) Murray

Ekora

Terrestrial

26

Poaceae

Saccharum spontaneum Linn.

Kahua

Terrestrial

27

Poaceae

Vetiveria zizanioides (Linn.) Nash.

Birina

Terrestrial

28

Pontederiaceae

Eichhornia crassipes (Mart.) Solms.

Bih meteka

Aquatic

29

Rhamnaceae

Ziziphus jujuba Lamk.

Bogori gach

Terrestrial

30

Solanaceae

Solanum ferox Linn.

Ban bengena

Terrestrial

31

Zingiberaceae

Alpinia allughas (Roxb.)

Toragach

Terrestrial

32

Zingiberaceae

Costus speciosus (Koen.) Smith.

Jom lakhuti

Terrestrial

 

 

Table 2. List of cultivated food plant species consumed by rhinos in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Sl. No.

Family

English / Local Assamese Name

Scientific Name

1

Brassicaceae

Mustard plant / Hariah

Brassica nigra (Linn.) Koch.

2

Convolvolaceae

Mitha alu / Ronga alu

Ipomoea batatas (Linn.)Lamk.

3

Cucurbitaceae

Cucumber / Tioh

Cucumis sativus Linn.

4

Cucurbitaceae

Pumkin / Rangalaw

Cucurbita moschata (Duch. and Lam) Desh. Ex. Poir.

5

Cucurbitaceae

Jika

Luffa acutangula (Linn.)Roxb.

6

Cucurbitaceae

Bhol

Luffa cylindrica (Linn.) M. Roem.

7

Euphorbiaceae

Castor plant / Ara goch

Ricinus communis Linn.

8

Poaceae

Rice / Dhan

Oryza sativa Linn.

9

Solanaceae

Tomato / Bilahi

Lycopersicon esculentum Mill.

10

Solanaceae

Brinjal / Bengena

Solanum melongena Linn.

11

Solanaceae

Potato / Alu

Solanum tuberosum Linn.

 

 

Table 3. Distribution status of terrestrial grasses and trees consumed as food by rhinos in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Sl. No.

Scientific Name

Frequency (%)

Density / m2

Abundance

1

Cynodon dactylon

70

167.50

239.28

2

Saccharum ravannae

30

51.50

171.66

3

Phragmites karka

30

50.75

169.16

4

Hemarthria compressa

47

73.75

163.88

5

Imperata cylindrical

25

39.50

158.00

6

Vetiveria zizanioides

40

56.00

140.00

7

Pollinia ciliata

5

5.00

100.00

8

Saccharum spontaneum

5

5.00

100.00

9

Costus speciosus

10

3.25

32.50

10

Sachumannianthus dichotomous

5

1.50

30.00

11

Alpinia allughas

15

2.35

15.66

12

Lagerstroemia flosreginae

5

0.05

1.00

13

Solanum ferox

5

0.05

1.00

14

Ziziphus jujuba

5

0.05

1.00

 

 

Table 4. Distribution status of aquatic vegetation consumed as food by rhinos in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary

 

Sl. No.

Scientific Name

Frequency (%)

Density / m2

Abundance

1

Arundo donax

5

25.00

500.00

2

Eichhornia crassipes

10

35.00

350.00

3

Leersia hexandra

15

46.75

311.66

4

Lemna perpusilla

5

15.00

300.00

5

Hymenachne pseudointerrupta

15

40.00

266.66

6

Pistia stratiotes

5

10.00

200.00

7

Ipomoea aquatica

15

15.00

100.00

8

Cenchrus  ciliaris

15

9.25

61.66

9

Enhydra fluctuans

5

2.50

50.00