Large herbivores have proportionately large impacts on their ecosystem, and are generally defined as keystone species. Beyond the large amount of habitat they require at any one time, many large herbivores also migrate over long distances. These traits further define large herbivores as umbrella species; wherein protecting them requires the preservation of large areas of suitable habitat, and protecting this habitat inevitably protects other resident plants and animals. Large herbivores also hold pivotal positions within ecosystems, where they are subject to “top-down” regulation from keystone predators like lions (Panthera leo), while simultaneously acting as keystone predators themselves, as they regulate the vegetation they feed on. These relationships add to the complexity of large herbivore management, because management practices must also consider their effects on predators, vegetation, and even abiotic elements like soil nutrients.

Hello Ranjana; Is the home range of individuals of the species known for the protected area? If that number is known, you can get a first approximation of the maximum number of animals the area can support simply by dividing the area of the preserve by the average home range area. The answer is complicated by the likely overlap of home ranges and other social aspects of the rhinos' biology. Habitat quality must surely vary across the protected area and that would influence the home range of the individuals from place to place.

If the literature on the ecology of this species is thin, then you have a very complex problem to work out. Best regards, Jim Des Lauriers

Generally, the dominance of the ecological component also affect and the vegetation cover decide the dependable factors.that device the protects area.