Asian Rhinos (Rhinoceros unicornis) on the run? Impact of tourist visits on one population.

This article by Dale F. Loft and Michael McCoy of University of California, Davis, examines the effects that tourists have on the behavior of asian rhinos. The introduction of this article looks at previous examples of how behavior has been a measure of disturbance relating to tourists. Some of these examples include bald eagles leaving their nests due to increased tourism, and big horn sheep decreasing their foraging behavior when tourists get to close. These cases created a concern for the asian rhinos in Chitwan Park, Nepal since it may lead to some negative behaviors.

Tourism in Chitwan Park is done by riding elephants, with an average group size being 5 to 7 elephants. The rhinos are located in meadows that contain 8meter tall towers which allow for viewing of the rhinos. The grass in the meadows of this area (which are around 4meters tall) are cultivated by locals and then burned which allows for regrowth and higher visibility of the rhinos.  This study observed 14 rhinos in the meadows of Chitwan Park, where a team of researchers recorded the rhino behavior from the towers for 17 days. The behavior was marked every 15 seconds for 5 minutes (total of 20 intervals) before the tourists arrived, while they were there, and after they left. They also recorded how long the tourists were there, and how close they got to the rhinos.

Once the data was compiled and averaged, the results showed a decrease in feeding, and an increase of being alert while the tourists were present. These results were proven to be statistically significant. The proximity of the tourists also affected the behavior, and when tourists were within 7meters of the rhino, the rhino would often leave the meadow.

I feel this study did a good job at answering their research question, and collecting the data needed to do so. The statistically significant results showed the amount of disturbance tourists have on the rhinos, and how some of them are being driven out of their home on the meadow. This article was published in 1993, and since then tourism has nearly doubled. The information collected from this study provides important insight on how to change and manage tourism in areas like this. It also gives readers an idea of how to be conscious of their tourism choices. Often times the close encounters that we want have serious consequences towards the animal. Rhinos depend on feeding throughout most of the day in order to remain healthy, and disruption in their behavior and lifestyle may lead to a decline in their health and success.

Citation:
Lott, D.F., McCoy, M. (1995)  Asian rhinos Rhinoceros unicornis on the run? Impact of tourist visits on one population. Biological Conservation 73:1, 23-26. DOI: doi:10.1016/0006-3207(95)90053-5