Rhinoceroses are large herbivorous mammals identified by their characteristic horned snouts. They are often classified as megafauna, which refers to animals weighing over 1,000 kg. Cave paintings suggest rhinos once roamed throughout Europe, Asia and Africa. But they are now restricted to Africa’s savannah and Asia’s tropical forests. As the world observes September 22 as Rhino Day, let’s take a look at how poaching is pushing the species to the brink.
Five extant species
There are five extant species of rhinoceroses – black rhinoceros and white rhinoceros of Africa; and Sumatran, Javan and Indian (greater one-horned rhinos) rhinos of Asia. White rhino has two subspecies – northern and southern. All the five species of rhinos have either one or two horns.
They live up to 45 years in the wild. While calves are attacked and consumed by big cats and hyenas, adults have no predators. However, they face threat from human poaches. The northern white rhino is on the brink of extinction with only two females of the species existing today. Three species of rhino – black, Javan, and Sumatran – are critically endangered. The conservation status of the greater one-horned rhino is vulnerable, while that of the southern white rhino is near threatened.
Why are they poached?
The rhinos are killed for their horns, which is prized in Asian countries Rhino horns are made of keratin – the same stuff that makes up your finger and toe nails. The horn is used in traditional Chinese medicine as a supposed cure for a range of illnesses. It is also used as a status symbol to display success and wealth.
There has been a huge surge in the poaching of rhinos since 2008 across the globe, particularly in South Africa, which has seen record numbers in recent years. On average, a rhino is killed every 15 hours there. Although international trade in rhino horn has been banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora since 1977, high demand in Asian markets, especially Vietnam and China, drives the illegal trade.
Indian rhinos
By the beginning of the 20th Century, hunting and habitat loss had reduced the population of the greater one-horned rhino to fewer than 200 individuals. However, conservation efforts and anti-poaching measures in the last few decades have made a huge difference and the rhino population has rebounded to more than 3,600 today. Nevertheless, threat from poaching still remains.
Globally, rhinos also face threats from habitat loss, population fragmentation, inbreeding and disease outbreak.
Picture Credit : Google
