World Rhino Day -22nd September

World Rhino Day is marked every year on 22 September to create awareness about the different kinds of Rhinoceros commonly abbreviated as Rhino species as well as the dangers they face. The day also aims to celebrate all five species of Rhino

Below are some of the interesting Facts about Rhinos

1.There are five species of rhino that can still be found in the wild below is the names, numbers and where they are found.

• The black rhinos (5000 individuals)
• The white rhinos (19000 individuals) these 2 types are found in sub-Saharan Africa,
• The greater one-horned rhino of India, (3500 individuals)
• The Sumatran rhino (80 individuals) found on the Indonesian islands of Sumatra and Borneo,
• The most critically endangered rhino of them all, the Javan rhino (60 individuals) found in Ujung Kulon National Park in Java, Indonesia
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• 2. Rhinos are huge

Sumatran rhinos are the smallest, but they can still weigh 600kg (that’s almost 95 stone). And white rhinos are the largest, weighing up to 3,500kg (over 550 stone, or well over 3 tonnes!). And  they mainly eat grass and leaves

3. Black and white rhinos are both grey

The names of black and white rhinos are misleading – as both are actually grey. The white rhino is said to have gotten its name from the Afrikaans word for wide (‘wyd’), referring to its wide, square lip (in contrast, black rhinos have a pointy upper lip). Early English explorers mistook this word for ‘white’ and consequently named this species ‘white’ rhino, and the other ‘black’ rhino to differentiate.

4. They’re called bulls and cows

Male rhinos are called ‘bulls’ and females are called ‘cows’. Their young are ‘calves’.Females tend to be more sociable than the more solitary, territorial males. Together, a group of rhinos is called a ‘crash’.

5. Their horn is made from the same stuff as our fingernails

Rhino horn is made up of keratin – the same protein which forms the basis of our hair and nails.  Javan and greater one-horned rhinos only have one horn, whereas all the other rhino species have two horns. Their horns grow continuously during their lifetime – the white rhino’s horn can grow 7cm every year – and the record length is 150cm long!

6. Rhinos have poor vision

Rhinos’ eyesight isn’t great – they’re unable to see a motionless person at a distance of 30m – they mainly rely on their strong sense of smell.

7. They communicate through honks, sneezes…and poo

Rhinos make an array of funny noises when they’re communicating.  During confrontations, they growl and make ‘trumpet calls’.  Black rhinos snort when they’re angry, make sneeze-like calls as alarms, scream if they’re scared, and ‘mmwonk’ when relaxed.

Rhinos also communicate through their poo and urine. When rhino poo in the same place as other rhinos – an area known as a latrine – they can smell the poo and urine of other individuals, and know who’s in the area.

9. They love mud

Rhinos can often be seen rolling around in mud, giving themselves a protective ‘mud coat’ to keep them cool, stop insects biting and get rid of any parasites. Asian rhinos are also excellent swimmers, crossing rivers with ease. But their African relatives are very poor swimmers and can drown in deep water – so they stick to wallowing in mud for a cool-down.

 10. Baby rhinos are lovely

A black rhino’s baby will always run behind its mother, while a white rhino’s baby will always run in front of her. Rhinos have a gestation period of between 16 and 18 months and can have a calf about every 3 years. Rhinos live between 35 and 50 years.

It is important to Note that rhinos are under threat and it is everyone’s responsibility to protect these wonderful creatures

It is estimated that over 7,100 African rhinos have been killed by poaching in the last 10 years – that’s around 2 every day rhinos are killed when removing their horns and may bleed to death after the horn has been removed

Ground rhino horn is used in traditional Asian medicine to ‘cure’ a range of ailments, from cancer to hangovers. And the horn is seen as a status symbol, particularly in Vietnam.

Habitat loss and fragmentation are an increasing threat to rhinos too, as human populations and infrastructure grow, encroaching on rhino habitat.

How to see African Rhino in the wild

If you would like to see the two African rhino species in the wild, then look no further than Engagi safaris will make you a tailor-made travel plan for you.