Rhinoceroses
Rhinoceroses, commonly known as rhinos, have a huge body, large head, thick skin, short legs, hooved feet and short tail. All rhinoceroses have a horn on their snout and some species have two horns.
There are five known species of rhinoceroses --- white, black, Javan, Sumatran and Indian. Rhinoceroses may live in grassy plains, thick forests or wetlands depending on their species. They are herbivores and feed on leaves, fruits and grass. Rhinoceroses may be grey or brown in colour.
* A rhinoceros' horn is made of the same material that is found in our fingernails and hair.
* Most rhinoceros species have a hairless body. They have hair only at the end of their tail and on the tips of their ears.
* A rhinoceros may weigh between 500 and 2,500 kilograms and may be between 2.5 and 4 metres long.
* Male rhinoceroses are called bulls and female rhinoceroses are called cows. Their young ones are called calves.
* Rhinoceroses bathe in mud. The muddy layer protects their skin from the sun and insect bites.
* Rhinoceroses use their horns to defend themselves against predators such as tigers and lions and to fight with other rhinoceroses.
* Most rhinoceros species are solitary, meaning they live alone. But some species, like the white rhinoceros, may live in pairs or groups.
* Rhinoceroses, especially males, are very territorial, meaning they defend their territory from intruders.
* Rhinoceroses mark their territory by urinating on trees or shrubs and scattering their dung in the region.
* Rhinoceroses are hunted for their horns, which some people believe have medicinal properties. As a result, there are less than 30,000 rhinoceroses in the world today.
