 Reference Base  International studbook for the Great Indian rhinoceros (R... |
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Basel Zoo; Tobler, K., 1995. International studbook for the Great Indian rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis), eighth edition. Basel, Zoologischer Garten, pp. i-v, 1-23, i-vi
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Captive |
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Diseases |
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Indian Rhino |
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Recommendations to avoid foot troubles in Rhinoceros unicornis . Foot troubles often crop up in Indian rhinos. The cause has been sought in lack of exercise, overweight, too small enclosures and unsuitable ground covers or a complexity of such factors. Information shedding light onto what extent this complaint is associated with enclosure size and ground cover was kindly given by 23 zoos in answer to a recent questionnaire. Ten institutions had encountered foot troubles though, in one case, unconnected either with enclosure size or the ground cover. Thirteen had been unaffected, barring two incidents when injuries were caused by stepping on a sharp unknown object outside the enclosure and getting a stone wedged in the front foot. Healing in both animals was uneventful. One reply noted that a pedicure was carried out every three months.
Enclosure sizes ranged from some 26-5000 m?, a pool and wallow generally being available. Whereas foot problems were found to arise on marl, finely cut gravel, sandy clay and combinations of bare ground and concrete as well as of dirt, stones and crushed limestone -which offered the advantages of keeping dry and wearing down the hoof- practically none was encountered on sand, and none at all on natural ground, natural ground combined with sand, dirt and sand over gravel, compact soil, decomposed granite and compact soil, irrespective of enclosure size.
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