You would be stunned to know that archaeologists in Tamil Nadu have made a significant discovery. They have now found rare bone fragments nearly 3,500 years old belonging to a rhinoceros near Coimbatore! This means one thing. Not just Assam, rhinos once lived in South India too. Let’s dig deep into this.
3500-Year-Old Rhino Bones Found In South India
Assam, West Bengal, and Uttar Pradesh are the places in India where people usually go to see rhinoceroses today. But a recent discovery has revealed that rhinos might once have lived in South India too. It sounds unbelievable, right? But yes, it is true. According to a report by MoneyControl, archaeologists in Tamil Nadu found rare bone fragments of this giant animal near Coimbatore.
They also revealed that this animal once roamed deep into southern India nearly 3,500 years ago. These fossils were discovered at a Neolithic site in the foothills of the Western Ghats. Moreover, this discovery challenges the belief that rhinos were limited only to northern and north-eastern India.
Excavations carried out in 2021 and 2024 revealed a large collection of animal remains at Molapalayam. Archaeologists found bones of cattle, deer, and antelopes. Among them were four fragments that clearly stood out! These fragments turned out to be two metacarpals and two carpals from the foot of an Indian rhinoceros.
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Where Rhinos Live Today
According to a report by The Times of India, the discovery is considered highly significant because many people believed rhinos existed only in Assam and other north-eastern regions of India. The foothills of the Western Ghats may have once had grasslands and marshes. Rhinos need these grasslands to survive. This makes it very possible that rhinos lived in South India in ancient times.
Similar discoveries have also been made before. Archaeologists have found Indian rhino remains from the Harappan period in Gujarat and Haryana. Officials have also found rhino bones in Odisha. This clearly suggests that rhinos once existed across much of the Indian subcontinent.
Around 80% of India’s rhino population lives in Kaziranga National Park. About 4% live in the Orang National Park. 3% are in Pobitora Wildlife Sanctuary and 1% in Manas National Park. Around 9% are found in Jaldapara National Park and 2% in Gorumara National Park in West Bengal. 1% of India’s rhinos also live in Dudhwa National Park in Uttar Pradesh.
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This discovery has surprised not just archaeologists but also researchers and wildlife lovers across the country. What do you think of this? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
Cover Image Courtesy: Kaziranga National Park, Wikipedia/ Digantatalukdar
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