How do rhinoceroses mark territories and home ranges?

In the context of the rhinoceros, which is a member of the order perissodactyl, territorial marking is a primary method used by solitary species to communicate and maintain their home ranges.1

Rhinoceroses mark the borders of their territories using two main methods:

• Urine: This is frequently used to scent-mark boundaries.1
• Dung Piles (Middens): Rhinoceroses create piles of dung that serve as important communication posts. These middens are not only used for scent deposition but also act as visual markers. In the case of the Indian rhinoceros, individuals exhibit a strong habit of defecating on existing latrines rather than in isolated clusters, with over 80 percent of defecations occurring at these sites.12

These territorial behaviors help solitary rhinoceroses manage their space, as individuals typically avoid one another. While these markers are essential for communication, they also play an ecological role; for instance, the nutrient-rich dung piles of the Indian rhinoceros support the germination of various plant species, aiding in seed dispersal and habitat colonization.12