RHINOCEROS

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The Rhinoceros is a huge animal that ranks as one of the largest land creatures. The rhinoceros has an immense, solid body, and short, stocky legs. Its thick skin appears to lie in folds but is actually just creased at the joints. Most species have little hair. Depending on the species, the rhinoceros has one or two slightly curving horns that project from its long nose. The horns continue to grow throughout the life of the rhinoceros. The horn consists of a fiberlike material similar to a mixture of hair and fingernails. It appears to be permanently joined to the rhinoceros's nose but can be torn out during fighting. The name rhinoceros comes from two Greek words and means nose-horned.

The animal has three toes on each foot. Each toe ends in a separate hoof. On each front foot is a fourth toe that is rudimentary, or no longer used. The rhinoceros differs from the hippopotamus, which has four developed toes. The hippopotamus is a relative of the hog, camel, and cow, and the rhinoceros is more nearly related to the horse. The rhinoceros eats grass, leafy twigs, and shrubs. In captivity, it is fed hay and special protein and mineral biscuits. Wild rhinoceroses live in Africa, in southeastern Asia, and on a few large islands near the Asiatic coast. In prehistoric times, they also roamed over Europe, North America, and northern Asia. Baluchitherium, a prehistoric relative of the modern rhinoceros, was larger than any land mammal that lives today. This animal reached over 16 feet (5 meters) in height. Rhinoceroses have been known to live almost 50 years.

Kinds of rhinoceroses.

There are five species of rhinoceroses. Three of them live in Asia and two in Africa. The Indian rhinoceros is the largest of the three Asian species. It stands about 5 feet 8 inches (1.7 meters) high at the shoulder and weighs about 2 short tons (1.8 metric tons). It has one great blue-black horn, very thick at the base and about 1 foot (30 centimeters) long. In rare cases, the animal may stand up to 61/2 feet (2 meters) with a horn 2 feet (61 centimeters) long. The skin of the Indian rhinoceros is sprinkled with round knobs. It hangs in such definite folds that the animal looks as though it were wearing armor plate. But the hide can be pierced by a knife or bullet. The animal lives in marshy jungles among reeds and tall grass, on which it feeds morning and evening. Ancient peoples of Asia knew this rhinoceros well. It was even used in the circus games in Rome before the time of Christ. The similar one-horned Javan rhinoceros once ranged from eastern Bengal into Burma, and southward to Java, Borneo, and Sumatra. It is now nearly extinct. The Sumatran species is smaller than any other rhinoceros and has two horns. It stands about 41/2 feet (1.4 meters) tall and weighs about 1 short ton (0.9 metric ton). It is hairy, especially on the tail and ears. The young have more body hair than the adults. This species lives in Sumatra, Borneo, and on the Malay Peninsula. It too is nearing extinction. Both the Javan and Sumatran rhinoceroses are found in forested hills. Less than 2,000 rhinoceroses live in the wild in Asia. The two African species are two-horned. They are known as the black rhinoceros and the white rhinoceros, though they are almost the same bluish-gray color. Hook-lipped (for the black) and square-lipped (for the white) are better names for them. The black rhinoceros has a front horn that is sometimes as much as 31/2 feet (107 centimeters) long. It uses this horn to defend itself and to dig. The rear horn may be the same length or shorter. The digging horn is so strong that the animal can easily uproot bushes and small trees with it. Then it feeds on the leaves and twigs. Although it appears clumsy, the black rhinoceros can move swiftly. The black rhinoceros is almost extinct in the wild. About 200 of these animals live on nature preserves in Africa. The white rhinoceros is the largest of all rhinoceroses. It stands about 5 feet 8 inches (1.7 meters) tall. In some cases, it may be over 6 feet (1.8 meters) tall and 15 feet (4.6 meters) long. It weighs abou 31/2 short tons (3.2 metric tons). The horns of the female are longer but more slender than those of the male. This is also true for the black rhinoceros. Less than 6,000 white rhinoceroses remain in the wild.

Protecting the rhinoceros.

All species, especially the Javan, Sumatran, and black rhinoceroses, are nearly extinct. The growth and spread of the human population has destroyed much of the animal's habitat. Rhinoceroses are greatly threatened by poachers--people who illegally hunt animals. Poachers kill rhinoceroses and sell their horns and skin. Many Asian people believe the powdered horn of the rhinoceros has healing qualities and can be used to cure lung and chest illnesses. Some people believe the horn has magical powers. Asian people also use the skin, blood, and urine of rhinoceroses to cure illnesses. For all these reasons, thousands of rhinoceroses have been needlessly killed. Laws of many countries and international trade treaties are designed to protect the rhinoceros from poachers. In the African nations of Kenya and Zimbabwe, special teams of rangers are on constant watch over theanimals. Almost all remaining wild rhinoceroses in Zimbabwe have been captured and placed in nature preserves. Some of the preserves have high, electrified fences and are closely patrolled by rangers. In Zimbabwe and two other African nations, Namibia and Swaziland, wildlife officials have further attempted to reduce poaching by cutting off the horns of some rhinoceroses. Many scientists, however, believe this approach puts the animals in even greater danger. Hornless rhinoceroses are less able to protect themselves against such predators as lions and hyenas. Also, poachers may kill hornless rhinoceroses for other body parts, including the horn root. In addition to antipoaching efforts, attempts have been made to increase the population of certain species of rhinoceroses. For example, black and white rhinoceroses have been sent to Australia and the United States to form breeding colonies for future repopulation. But despite these efforts, the future of wild rhinoceroses remains bleak.

Scientific classification. Rhinoceroses make up the family Rhinocerotidae. The Indian rhinoceros is Rhinoceros unicornis; the Javan is R. sondaicus; the Sumatran is Dicerorhinus sumatrensis; the black is Diceros bicornis; the white is Ceratotherium simum.