World Rhino Day
#WorldRhinoDay
World Rhino Day is an event celebrated every September 22 to raise awareness about the five endangered rhino species: the Javan rhino, Sumatran rhino, Black rhino, greater one-horned rhino, and White rhino. The day has been celebrated since 2010, created by the World Wildlife Fund-South Africa, and highlighted the challenges that rhinos face, including poaching and habitat loss.
Rhinos have been hunted by poachers for their horns and their blood, as it is believed under Asian tradition that they contain a cure for cancer, fever and other illnesses. Rhino poaching can be traced back as far as the 1600s.
There are currently only about 27,000 rhinos left in the world. Three species of rhino—the lack, Javan, and Sumatran—are critically endangered. The southern white rhino, found in Africa, was once thought to be extinct but is now thriving in protected sanctuaries and is classified as near threatened.
World Rhino Day aims to bring together NGOs, zoos, wildlife conservation centers, research centres, and concerned individuals to help protect rhino species from total extinction. Protecting rhinos is important because it helps protect the ecosystems they depend on. Rhinos maintain the diverse African grasses and woodlands on which many other species depend.
There are many ways for you to celebrate World Rhino Day:
- Donate to organizations like the International Rhino Foundation and WWF
- Organize demonstrations against poaching
- Visit your local zoo
- Watch a documentary about rhinos (i.e. Rhino Man)
- Read about the five rhino species.
Fun Facts:
- Rhinos have no natural predators except humans
- A group of rhinos is called a crash
- Rhinos can be pregnant for up to 16 months
- Only white and black rhinos live in Africa. The other three species are found in Asia.
- White rhinos aren’t white. Their name comes from a misunderstanding of the Afrikaans word “wyd” which refers to their wide lips.
- Rhinos have a great sense of hearing and smell but not sight
- Like hippos, rhinos spend their time in the mud to avoid getting sunburnt
