As humans, we think we are at the top of the living pyramid, but when we open a documentary and explore the wilderness, we realize how weak we actually are. Let alone the predators, even herbivores like rhinoceros have astonishing power. The rhino, a creature living in Africa and Asia, can weigh many tons.
Of course, what makes the rhino so frightening is the horns it carries on its nose, rather than its weight. It is truly awe-inspiring to see how the rhino, which can run at an unexpected speed from this large body, uses its horns in case of danger. What’s more terrifying is that these huge creatures are going extinct. Let’s take a closer look at interesting information about rhinos.
Information about rhinos:
- There are five different rhino species living in the world.
- A rhino can weigh more than three tons.
- The substance that makes up rhino horn is also present in humans.
- Rhinos have very poor eyesight.
- It’s hard not to be fascinated with the way they communicate.
- Don’t think about running away from a rhino.
- They can swim like a fish.
- They hunt because of their horns.
- Soon there won’t be a single rhino around.
There are five different rhino species living in the world:
Rhinos, like horses, are members of the order of single-hoofed creatures. Although everyone thinks of only one species when it comes to rhino, there are actually five different rhino species, two of which live in Africa and three in Asia. Black rhino and white rhino live in Africa. The great one-horned rhino, Sumatran rhino, and Javanese rhino live in Asia.
A rhino can weigh more than three tons:
Of course, this weight issue is not the same for all rhinos. For example, the Sumatran rhino has an average weight of 600 kilograms and is considered the smallest species. An adult white rhino living in Africa can weigh up to 3500 kilograms or three and a half tons. It’s really incredible that it can weigh this much because rhinos generally only eat grass and leaves. You know, vegetables wouldn’t make you gain weight?
The substance that makes up rhino horn is also present in humans:
Undoubtedly, one of the features that makes rhinos so impressive and scary is the horns on their noses. The Javanese rhino, and its name the great one-horned rhino, has only one horn, while other species have two horns. From the day they are born until the day they die, the horns of rhinos grow an average of 7 cm per year. The longest rhino horn ever measured is 150 cm tall.
If you think that rhino horns are a kind of bone, you are wrong because these horns are actually made of a fibrous protein structure. The protein that makes up this structure is not foreign to us, because the protein that makes up our hair and nails is also keratin.
Rhinos have very poor eyesight:
From an evolutionary point of view, maybe it’s because they didn’t need it as much as other living things, but rhinos’ eyesight is very, very weak. So much so that if you stand thirty meters in front of a rhino without moving, it is impossible for him to see you. But if you’ve sprayed a perfume with an unnatural smell, don’t stop there because their sense of smell is very, very developed instead of their poor eyesight.
It’s hard not to admire the way they communicate:
Like all living things, rhinos communicate with each other through sounds, but the sounds of this creature, which weighs tons, can sometimes be quite interesting. During the encounter, they make strange grunts and trumpet-like sounds. The sound that rhinos make when they relax is quite funny when they sneeze and warn each other in case of danger.
Rhinos’ most distinctive communication method is by using urine and feces. It’s very interesting, but each rhino’s urine and feces smell is unique. A rhinoceros that poops or urinates in a common area informs other rhinos that it has been here before. Who knows, maybe there are hidden messages in this fragrance that we haven’t discovered yet.
Do not think of running away from a rhino:
If a stone cracks, a person would run at a speed of 65 kilometers per hour, and an average of 40 kilometers per hour. Considering how clumsy we become because of the time we spend in front of the computer, even this speed is a dream for most of us. A rhino weighing several tons can run at a speed of 45 kilometers per hour. Even more interesting, despite its short legs and massive body, it can change direction with incredible agility.
They can swim like a fish:
By the nature they have evolved from, African rhinos are terrible swimmers and can sink like a stone if they enter the water. But Asian rhinos turn into incredible swimmers in water and can cross rivers in seconds. Even a rhinoceros that can’t swim at all loves shallow water, especially mud. You can often see rhinos rolling happily in a mud puddle. The reason for this is both to get rid of the bites of insects and to cool a little in unbearable heat and create a shell for themselves.
They hunt because of their horns:
Rhino horns are unfortunately very popular both as an ornament and because of superstition. It is used in Chinese traditional medicine as both an aphrodisiac and a cure. In Yemen and its surroundings, rhino horn is the most important ornament of many items, especially dagger handles. Not to mention the fact that they are sold as souvenirs to tourists in regions where they are commonly found.
Soon not a single rhino will be around:
According to figures published by WWF, 2 rhinos are killed almost every day in Africa. Even if the rhinoceros, whose horns were cut off by being drugged, does not die at that moment, it dies later due to blood loss or being hornless. Only 66 Javanese rhinos, 47 Sumatran rhinos, just over 4,000 one-horned rhinos and less than 16,000 white rhinos are known. On the other hand, if we consider that their natural life is destroyed, the number will have decreased even more as you read this article.
We talked about the extraordinary information, some of which you have heard for the first time, about the living rhino, which draws attention with its weight of thousands of kilograms and scary horns. Even though you weigh a ton, you just can’t stop a tiny person from coming in and smashing you and cutting your horn.
56536
