September 22nd is World Rhino Day 2020. Accordingly, it is a day for celebrating and raising awareness for the world’s last five remaining rhinoceros (Rhinocerotidae): white rhino, black rhino, Indian rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino. 

Sadly, animals only get their designated annual Remembrance Day when they are almost extinct!

At the beginning of the 20^th century, over 500,000 rhinos roamed around Africa and Asia. Today, an estimated 70,000 rhinos are left, of which 27,000 remain in the wild. Unfortunately, few rhinos survive outside protected national parks and reserves due to ongoing and ruthless poaching and habitat loss.  

Sadly, three of the five rhino species are critically endangered: black, Javan, and Sumatran.

WHITE RHINO (Ceratotherium simum)

• Current population: 17,212 -18,915
• Weight: 1800 – 2500 kg
• Height: 1.5 – 1.8 metres to top of shoulder
• Habitat: tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrub-lands 

The white rhino is also known as the square-lipped rhino. In the early 1900s, these rhinos were near extinction, with only 50-100 individuals left in the wild. However, due to extensive conservation practices, the numbers have now increased. Most white rhinos live in South Africa, Botswana, Kenya, Namibia, Swaziland, Zambia, Zimbabwe, and Uganda.

Northern white rhino (Ceratotherium simum cottoni)

• Current population 2
• Critically Endangered, possibly extinct in the wild: IUCN Red List Classification

Both rhinos are females and are protected under 24-hour armed guards in a conservancy in Kenya. Since no male species are left, this breed will become extinct once these two are gone.

Black rhino (Diceros bicornis)

• Size: 900 – 1350 kg
• Current population is 5,366 – 5,627
• Height to shoulder: 1.6 metres
• Life expectancy in the wild: 30-35 years, in captivity 35 – 40 years.
• Location: Kenya, Namibia, South Africa, Swaziland, Tanzania, Zambia, Zimbabwe, Botswana, and Malawi.  
• Habitat is tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs, and shrublands.
• Critically Endangered: IUCN Red List Classification

The black rhino has two horns that grow continuously from the skin at the base of the horn on the face. Black rhinos are smaller than white rhinos and have a smaller hump on their necks. They also have smaller heads, as black rhinos are browsers and eat from higher bushes and trees, requiring less muscle strength around their necks than white rhinos. There is no colour difference between the black and white rhino, as they are dark grey. The other distinguishing characteristic is that the black rhino has a hooked lip, whereas the white rhino has a flat-based lip.

Due to several conservation programs and reintroduction programs in Africa, the numbers of black rhinos have increased.

Greater one-horned rhino (Rhinoceros unicornis)

• Current population 3588
• Habitat: due to these rhinos being semi-aquatic, they prefer tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs, shrub-lands, swaps, forests near rivers
• Weight: 1800 – 2700 kg
• Height: 1.75 – 2 metres tall and 3 – 3.8 metres long
• Location: Nepal and India
• Life expectancy: 35 – 40 years in the wild and 40 years in captivity
• Vulnerable: IUCN Red List Classification

In the 1900s, less than 200 greater one-horned rhinos remained. However, their numbers have increased significantly due to collaborative conservation efforts in India and Nepal.  

Javan rhino (Rhinoceros sondaicus)

• Current population 72
• Weight: 900- 2300 kg
• Height 1.4 – 1.7 metres
• Lifespan: 34 – 40 years in the wild
• Habitat: Tropical and subtropical moist forests
• Critically Endangered: IUCN Red List Classification

Java Island in Indonesia is home to the three remaining Javan rhinos. At present, they are the rarest and largest mammals on earth. Javan rhinos live solitary lives, apart from during the mating season or when females raise calves. However, stringent conservation efforts positively impact the numbers, which are slowly increasing.

Sumatran rhino (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis)

• The current population is less than 80
• Weight: 500 – 960 kg
• Height: 1.5 metres
• Habitat: dense highland and lowland tropical and sub-tropical forests
• Critically Endangered: IUCN Red List Classification

The remaining Sumatran rhinos living in the wild are in Sumatra and Borneo. This rhino has been on earth longer than any other living mammal. They are the smallest and hairiest of all rhino species.

Conservation

Threats:  Humans – harassment and encroachment in their habitats.

Poaching:  for rhino horns and body parts. Rhino horns are bought and sold on the black market for their presumed therapeutic properties.  

Habitat loss:  due to deforestation, agriculture, and fragmented habitats. Shrinking habitats impact the ability of rhinos to live in and breed successfully.

World Rhino Day is aimed at keeping the Five Alive.

resources

https://www.iucn.org/news/species/202003/conservation-efforts-bring-cautious-hope-african-rhinos-iucn-red-list