When I was a child, I only knew of the two African rhinos: the Black Rhino and the White Rhino.  I have recently come to know of the Indian Rhino, the Javan Rhino, and the Sumatran Rhino which are all from Southern Asia.

The Javan and Indian rhinos each have one horn while both African species and the Sumatran rhino have two horns.

From top left: Black Rhino, Southern White Rhino, Indian Rhino, Javan Rhino, Sumatran rhino.

The sad news is, these magnificent animals are critically threatened but the good news is, we have a chance to restore their diminished numbers.

For 60 million years, rhinos have roamed the earth. They have not always been considered endangered and humans are leading them to possible extinction. Myths and greed are reducing their numbers significantly. Earlier, with guns they were killed for trophies and now due to a reminder that our ancestors used rhino horns to cure diseases, they are being hunted mercilessly. Poisonous drugs and saws are now been used, killing them slowly and painfully. Greed has led to increased poaching, with middlemen advising their buyers that rhino horns do cure. It has been scientifically noted that rhino horns, made of the same protein material, keratin, as your hair and nails, have no components present to cure any sort of illness. RHINO HORN IS NOT MEDICINE.

We can end this!

Today we remember the rhinos that have mercilessly fallen into human hands, the rhinos orphaned as their parents are killed, the rhinos that can not live peacefully within their environment safely. I speak for them today. Rhinos are not insignificant animals. In their own way, they play a major part in the ecosystem and also the economy. From their dung which is home to various arthropods to them being a major tourist attraction. As they forage they prevent bushes from becoming huge, grasses from becoming too tall, hence the amazing biological cycle. They are also important.

HAPPY WORLD RHINO DAY!!

All photos credits go to Google