Flash
22/09/23
World Rhino Day
On the 22nd September it is World Rhino Day. It is also Save the Rhino Day on the 1st May. Both are days dedicated for raising awareness of these amazing creatures and of the work being done to save them from extinction.
Rhinos live in Africa and Asia in the wild but upsettingly there are fewer and fewer of them. There are five species of rhinos and once you know the slight differences between them the different species are quite easy to spot. Unfortunately the Black, Javan and Sumatran species are critically endangered, while the Greater One Horned Rhinos are listed as vulnerable and the White Rhinos are near threatened. These amazing creatures are in danger of becoming extinct mainly because of poachers killing them for their horns.
Black Rhino
Black Rhinos live in Africa in the wild. These rhinos are critically endangered with the number left in the wild going down really fast in the not so long ago, with there only being around 2000 left at one point. It is thought there are now around 6000 of these species left in the wild because of efforts to protect this species and protect them from poachers.
Black Rhinos have two horns, with the front being longer, growing up to about 130cm. They have a pointy top lip which helps to identify them from other species. They use this lip to help rip leaves off bushes and tress instead of grazing on grass.
White Rhino
White Rhinos can be found in the wild in Africa. There are about 16 000 White Rhinos living in the wild, so much more than any other species and they are listed as near threatened.
They are the largest species of Rhino and can weigh up to about 3500kg! They have two horns, the front one is usually longer than the other and can actually grow to 200cm, growing 7cm every year! They have a wide square mouth which makes them look quite different to the Black Rhino which also can be found in Africa. This square shaped mouth helps them graze grass on the ground, which they have to eat a lot of to fill them up!
This species of rhino is critically endangered.
This species of rhino is critically endangered.
This species of rhino is listed as vulnerable.
Greater One Horned Rhino
The Greater One Horned Rhino can be found living in Asia, mainly in India. There are about 4000 left of these species left in the wild and they are listed as vulnerable. At one point there as actually only about 100 of these species left, showing what protection and conservation can actually do to help save endangered species of animals.
They have one horn, which grows up to about 60cm. They have very thick skin, which creates rolls which really makes it look like it has armoured skin, even more so than any of the other species. The Greater One Horned rhino really likes the water and can swim and even dive right under the water.
Javan Rhino
The Javan Rhino can only be found in one place in the world, a National Park in Indonesia. Very sadly today there is thought to be only 60 – 70 of these rhinos left and they are a critically endangered species and in real danger of becoming extinct.
Female Javan Rhinos have a very small horn or don’t have one at all, while the males have a horn that can grow to about 25cm long. They are quite similar to the Greater One Horned Rhino and have skin folds that make it look like it has armored plating.
Sumatran Rhino
Sumatran Rhinos can be found living in Indonesia in Asia. They are in the most in danger of becoming extinct, with there unbelievably only being about 30 – 40 left living in the wild.
Sumatran Rhinos look quite different to other rhino species. Of all the rhino species, the Sumatran Rhinos are the smallest and can weigh up to about 600kg. They have hair on their bodies unlike all the others. They are the only Asian rhinos with two horns.
All photos and illustrations in this blog post are Whizzbots, Shutterstock or Creative Commons Images, which are credited appropriately.