Rhinos | Rhinocerotidae
Rhinos, or Rhinocerotidae, are among the few large land animals facing extinction caused by poachers. There are three species–two living in Africa (open areas) and the other in south-central Asia (dense forest, savannah, and shrubby regions). A common feature in all rhinos is their enormous size, one or two horns on their heads, tough skin, and small brains. They are herbivores with small but broad chests, stumpy legs, and elongated skulls. Females give birth to one calf after two years. They are often solitary, but we can see some in groups during grazing or mating.
Most communities in Vietnam and China love trading rhino horns, which they use in folk remedies. This trade has been the biggest threat to rhinos as humans hunted them to get these horns. It is now so difficult for a rhino to survive in a national park. Among the critically endangered rhinos today include black rhinos, Javan rhinos, and Sumatran rhinos.
What rhinos eat can be determined by the shape of their lips. The white rhino, which has squared lips, is a grazer and often moves with the head lowered on the ground feeding on grass while the black rhino, which has a hooked upper lip, is a browser feeding on leaves.
Yes, it can. And dehorning rhinos is a method used to prevent poaching. Unfortunately, in the wild, they might have difficulties since they have nothing to defend their territories, dig for water, break branches, or guide their calves. Even so, rhino horns can still grow after dehorning.
