Endangerd Species-The Rhinoceros By Nic Barger Description The Rhinoceros is a large mammal in which is part of the Rhinocerotidea family. A once very numberous number of rhinoceros has decreased into a few and only five species that are still living today. These types include: The Asian One-Horned Rhino, The White Rhino, The Black Rhino, The Javan Rhino, and the Sumatran Rhino. A few characteristics of Rhinos are that they have very small eyes, one or two horns on the snout(depending on the type of Rhino) and three toes on each foot. Although there are many differences in the different types of Rhinos, there are some similarities. They all have a few characteristics in common which include large heads, broad chests, thick legs, poor eyesight,excellent hearing, and a fondness for rolling in the mud. All Rhinos are herbavores, eating either grass or leaves, depending on the species. Different types of Rhinos Asian One-Horned These Rhinos like to feed on leaves, grass, fruit, branches, and shrubs. They like grasslands and forests and live in India and Nepal.

They are between 7-14 feet long, and 3.5-6.5 feet up to their shoulders. They can weigh anywhere from 3300-4400 pounds. Asian One-Horned are also known as the Rhinoceros Unicornis. They are also known for there ability to swim. There are only 2548 Asian One-Horned Rhino's left. White Rhino White Rhino's have two horns and are one of the biggest species in the Rhinocerotidea family. These Rhinos like to feed on long or short grass. They like to graze in flat terrain, savanna's and woodlands with open grasslands. They live in Central Africa. They are 12-14 feet long and 5-6 at their shoulder height. They weigh anywhere from 5070-7936 pounds. They aren't known for their swimming and are sometimes seen backing into water. There are two types of these kinds of Rhino's. The Northern White and the Southern White. There are less than 35 Northern White Rhino's left, and about 9125 Southern Rhino's left.

Black Rhino The Black Rhino has two horns, and is from the Eastern and Southern part of Africa. They like to eat bushes, leaves, seedlings, and fruit. They like to graze in bushy plains, and rugged hills. They are 10-12.5 feet long 4.5-6 feet tall at the shoulders, and weigh between 2195-3000 pounds. There are only 2707 of these types of Rhino's left. Javan Rhino The Javan is the least numerous Rhino that is still alive. They like to eat leaves, twigs, and fallen fruit. They like to graze in dense lownland, and tropical rainforests. they live on a Peninula of Western Java and in veitnam. There are less than 80 of these mammals still alive. They are 11.5 feet long, and 5-6 feet tall to the shoulders. These Rhinos were thought to be extinct until 1988. Sumatran Rhino Sumatran Rhinos are one of the smallest Rhinos in the family. They are only 8-9 feet long, and 3-5 feet tall at the shoulders.

They only weigh between 1300-1700 pounds. They like to eat fruit, leaves, twigs, and bark. They prefer to live in tropical rainforests. They live in Southeast Asia. There are less than 400 of these Rhinos left today, and they are considered in the most danger of extinction because of there scattered. Facts ~Some of the largest land mammals that ever lived are Rhinos that are currently extinct. One of these in particular is the Baluchitherim. This mammal lived in Asia about 37 million to 25 million years ago. They had a height of about 18 feet, and a length of about 23 feet. ~The Black and White Rhinos are misnamed in the fact that all Rhinos are basically the same color, and their color also depends on the soil in which they graze. ~The Rhino is the second biggest land mammal next to the elephant, but is greatly outweighed by the hippo. ~One of the reasons Rhinos are endangered are because of poachers. People Poach Rhinos for their horns. There horns are made of compacted hair and keratin which can be used to make medicines.

~Rhinoceroses get their name from one of their most famous features, their horns. Rhino comes from the greek meaning nose, and ceros horn. ~In some countries people dehorn Rhinos (dehorning is the process in which you remove the horn from the Rhino) to keep the Rhino alive and well. This keeps off potential poachers of killing the rhinos for the money they could get for the horns. ~Although large in size, a Black Rhino can run along at 40 miles per hour! ~Rhinos skin is fairly sensitive, especially to sunburn and insects that bite, this is why they love to roll around in the mud so much. ~White Rhinos heads can weigh up to 2000 pounds. ~Black, Javan, and Sumatran Rhinos are at Critical Risk, while White and Asian are Endangered ~Some Rhinos have square lips and other have pointed lips. The White Rhino is Africa is the one with the wide upper lip. This Rhino spends much of it's time grazing and it needs this wide lip to help cut off sharp grass.

The Black Rhino is a browser and has a prehensile uppoer lip to help cut off and find the browse on trees and shrubs. It has a much smaller head because it doesn't need all the muscle for lowering the head while grazing. ~Rhinos fight a lot, with other animals and each other, sometimes over territory, sometimes for protection ~Eventhough Rhinos are very fierce creatures, black rhinos do have a �softer� side. The females are very attentive mothers. They look after their young for years, protecting them from enemies and teaching them how to survive independently. ~Humans are the biggest threat to Rhinos because there aren't many animals that can compare in size to the rhino. ~Since Rhinos don't have good sight, anytime they hear or see something they charge it thinking it is a threat. Many times they end up charging trees or bushes mistaking them for threats. A Critically Endangered Species: Rhinos – The Rhino Orphanage Home / About The Rhino / A Critically Endangered Species: Rhinos A Critically Endangered Species: Rhinos Baby Rhinos Playing There was a time when rhinos roamed around many places on the Earth.

They have been around for 40 million years – far longer than human beings. They still look prehistoric with their large horns and their thick armour-like skin. If you see one of these peaceful giants these days you look into the eyes of one of the most beautiful heritages of our planet. These days may soon be gone. There were one million rhinos at the turn of the 19th century. This number unfortunately has declined dramatically in the last decades. 40 years ago there were only 70,000 of them. Nowadays these critically endangered animals fight for the survival and against extinction. The Javan rhino, Sumatran rhino and Greater One-Horned (Indian) rhino Baby Rhino Sleeping At present three of the five species of rhino are “critically endangered” (World Conservation Union). Critically endangered animals face an extremely high risk of extinction. The Javan and Sumatran rhino are critically endangered and the bigger one-horned (or Indian) rhino is classified as vulnerable. In 2011 a subspecies of the Javan rhino was declared extinct in Vietnam.

The White and the Black Rhino The two African species, the White rhino and the Black rhino, once were thought to be extinct but could be rescued in the last decades by successful conservation programs. The Southern White rhino was rescued due to the work of a few dedicated people around Dr. Ian Player and its rescue is now seen as one of the most successful conservation stories. Dr Player’s team has brought together the last 200 survivors of white rhinos and has been able to increase their population up to the count of 20,000 animals- the largest rhino population these days followed by 5000 Black rhinos. White rhinos are now classified as Near Threatened while black rhinos are still seen as critically endangered (a subspecies, the western black rhinos, were declared extinct in 2011). Another subspecies of the White rhino, the Northern White rhino, has only 5 captive individuals remaining in Kenya. Baby Rhino Calves - Caring for each other Created and Maintained By ATKASA Contact Us We're not around right now. But you can send us an email and we'll get back to you, asap.

Send Animal Scoop - Rhinoceroses - White - Black - Indian - Sumatran - Javan - BillyBear4Kids.com See all of the Rhino photos at one time. The White and Black Rhino look similar... which is which? The Indian Rhino has only one horn. Poaching for rhino's horn (the same for the Elephant's ivory tusks) is one reason for the Rhino's population to become endangered. This Inidan Rhino's horned has been sawed off. Baby Black Rhino at Cincinnati Zoo. The Insite - Endangered Species: Rhinos Endangered Species Rhinos (Black Rhino Photo: Courtesy AAZK:Bowling for Rhinos) What's the Problem? Before 1900, hundreds of thousands of rhinos roamed over huge areas of Africa and Asia. (And they were perfectly happy doing that for 50 million years!) Since 1970, more than 90% of the world's rhinoceros have disappeared! Only about 18,000 rhinos remain in the wild today.

All five species of rhinos - the Black (or hooked lip) rhino, the White (or square lip) rhino, the Indian rhino, the Sumatran rhino, and the Javan rhino - are all threatened with extinction. What's been happening to the rhinos? The usual things that put animals on the Endangered Species List: Poaching - Humans are illegally hunting rhinos. Habitat Loss - Humans are getting on rhino's turf. Low Reproductivity - It takes a long time to make a baby rhino (calf). Poaching: The word rhinoceros means "horn-nosed," and that horn is a very valuable thing (for the rhino, that is). Rhinos use their horns for: shoveling the ground for mineral salt fighting over territory or during courtship defending themselves and their young against lions, tigers and hyenas Unfortunately, humans find rhino horns very valuable too. In Yemen, they're carved into fancy dagger handles, which sell for $500 to $12,000! Many Asians believe that powdered rhino horn cures everything from nose bleeds to food poisoning.

Some think that powdered rhino horn can keep a person young and increase sexual energy. As a result, poachers kill rhinos, cut off their horns and sell them for big bucks! As if killing rhinos for their horns wasn't bad enough, other parts of the rhino (skins and hooves) are also bought and sold illegally throughout the world. In 1970 there were about 65,000 Black rhinos in the wild. In 1995, there were only about 2,400. That's the fastest decline of any large mammal in recorded history! Habitat Loss: In India, where the rhino is considered a hungry "pest," rhino grazing grounds have been converted to rice paddies to feed an ever-growing human population. In Java, the rhino's forest habit has shrunk because humans have chopped down trees to use the wood for building homes. Low Reproductivity: Rhinos are slow breeders, meaning they don't mate very often. Once a female rhino gets pregnant, it takes (15-16 months) before the baby (called a calf) is born and that only happens once every 2 to 4 years!

This makes it very hard for the rhino to rebound from its low numbers and avoid extinction. (Photo: Courtesy AAZK:Bowling for Rhinos) It's The Law! The rhino is protected under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES), an agreement signed by over 120 nations (including the United States) to eliminate illegal trade in certain live animals and their body parts and associated products. Currently, some countries are threatening to impose trade sanctions against Yemen, South Korea, China and Taiwan for allegedly violating the CITES agreement. The United States imposed wildlife trade sanctions on Taiwan in 1994 for that country's illegal trade in rhino as well as tiger parts and products. This is the first time the United States has taken such action to penalize another country because of illegal trade in endangered wildlife. In 1994, the United States Congress passed the Rhinoceros and Tiger Conservation Act to provide resources to conservation programs focused on saving these endangered species. What You Can Do To Help! While rhinos might not be the cutest, sweetest animals on the planet, they are unique and fascinating creatures that deserve our help.

You know what they say: "Extinct is forever!" As long as the demand for rhino horns remains high, all five species of rhinos are in trouble. We must take strong measures to protect not only this animal but every species and their habitat. So get involved in the solution! 1. Write to President Obama and Ken Salazar, Secretary of the Interior expressing your concern about the fate of rhinos and your desire that they be saved: Write The President at: Rhino | Species | WWF Species e Habitats Tropical and subtropical grasslands, savannahs and shrublands, tropical moist forests, deserts and xeric shrublands Rhinos once roamed many places throughout Eurasia and Africa and were known to early Europeans who depicted them in cave paintings. Long ago they were widespread across Africa's savannas and Asia's tropical forests. But today very few rhinos survive outside national parks and reserves . Two species of rhino in Asia—Javan and Sumatran—are Critically Endangered. A subspecies of the Javan rhino was declared extinct in Vietnam in 2011. A small population of the Javan rhino still clings for survival on the Indonesian island of Java.

Successful conservation efforts have helped the third Asian species, the greater one-horned (or Indian) rhino, to increase in number. Their status was changed from Endangered to Vulnerable, but the species is still poached for its horn. In Africa, Southern white rhinos, once thought to be extinct, now thrive in protected sanctuaries and are classified as Near Threatened. But the Northern white rhino subspecies is believed to be extinct in the wild and only a few captive individuals remain in a sanctuary in Kenya. Black rhinos have doubled in number over the past two decades from their low point of 2,480 individuals, but total numbers are still a fraction of the estimated 100,000 that existed in the early part of the 20th century. CITES: Big steps for wildlife During the world’s largest ever wildlife trade meeting—the 17th meeting of the Conference of the Parties (CoP17) to the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Wild Fauna and Flora (CITES)—governments united behind a series of tough decisions to provide greater protection to a host of threatened species and bolster efforts to tackle soaring levels of poaching and wildlife trafficking.

Greater One-Horned Rhino Why They Matter In almost all rhino conservation areas, there are other valuable plants and animals. The protection of rhinos helps protect other species including elephants, buffalo, and small game. Rhinos contribute to economic growth and sustainable development through the tourism industry, which creates job opportunities and provides tangible benefits to local communities living alongside rhinos. Rhinos are one of the "Big 5" animals popular on African safaris and they are a popular tourism draw in places like the Eastern Himalayas. Threats Illegal Wildlife Trade Although international trade in rhino horn has been banned under the Convention on International Trade in Endangered Species of Fauna and Flora (CITES) since 1977, demand remains high and fuels rhino poaching in both Africa and Asia. Criminal syndicates link the killing fields in countries like South Africa through a whole series of transit points and smuggling channels on to the final destination in Asia. The main market is now in Vietnam where there is a newly emerged belief that rhino horn cures cancer. Rhino horn is also used in other traditional Asian medicine to treat a variety of ailments including fever and various blood disorders. It is also used in some Asian cultures as a cure for hangovers.

Habitat Loss Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park in Sumatra is thought to have one of the largest populations of Sumatran rhinos, but it is losing forest cover due to conversion for coffee and rice by illegal settlers. In southern Zimbabwe, privately owned rhino conservancies have been invaded by landless people. This reduces the amount of safe habitat for rhino populations and increases the risk of poaching and snaring. Reduced Genetic Diversity The small size of the Javan rhino population is in itself a cause for concern. Low genetic diversity could make it hard for the species to remain viable. Natural Disasters Ujung Kulon National Park, home to Javan rhinos, is highly vulnerable to tsunamis and a major explosion of the Anak Krakatau volcano could easily wipe out all life in the protected area. Disease In recent years four Javan rhinos, including one young adult female, are thought to have died from disease, probably transmitted to wild cattle in the park and subsequently to the rhinos. What WWF Is Doing Flying Rhinos In October 2011, WWF helped to successfully establish a new black rhino population in a safer, more spacious location.

Nineteen critically endangered black rhinos were transported via helicopter to a land vehicle. They spent less than 10 minutes in the air and the sedated animals woke up in a new home. Translocations reduce pressure on existing wildlife reserves and provide new territory where rhinos have a greater opportunity to increase in number. Creating more dispersed and better protected populations also helps keep rhinos safe from poachers. This work was done by the Black Rhino Range Expansion Project (BRREP), a partnership between WWF-South Africa, Ezemvelo KZN Wildlife and Eastern Cape Parks and Tourism. Black rhinos under watch from armed guards due to poaching. Protecting Sumatran Rhino Habitat In Bukit Barisan Selatan National Park, the critically endangered population of 60–80 Sumatran rhinos is threatened by the conversion of forest to cash crops on both the eastern and western sides of the island’s central mountain range. WWF works with park officials to collect population data on the rhinos, and with local communities to halt deforestation and preserve and restore natural habitat. We also support antipoaching efforts in the park.

Tackling Illegal Wildlife Trade WWF is setting up an Africa-wide rhino database using rhino horn DNA analysis (RhoDIS), which contributes to forensic investigations at the scene of the crime and for court evidence to greatly strengthen prosecution cases. In South Africa and Kenya, it has been circulated into law as legal evidence in courts and rhino management. This work is done with institutions like the University of Pretoria Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. In Namibia, WWF we worked with the government and other partners to develop innovative new transmitters to track rhino movements and protect them against poaching. We also helped set up and promote a free and confidential phone hotline that allows people to inform the authorities about poaching safely and anonymously. WWF developed this tool with the Government of Namibia and Mobile Telecommunications Limited. Rhino poaching in Namibia is now at an all time low. TRAFFIC, the world’s largest wildlife trade monitoring network, has played a vital role in bilateral law enforcement efforts between South Africa and Vietnam. This has gone hand-in-hand with written commitments to strengthen border and ports monitoring as well as information sharing in order to disrupt the illegal trade chain activities and bring the perpetrators to justice for their crimes against rhinos.

Stopping Forest Conversion Surveys by WWF, Sabah Wildlife Department (SWD) and Sabah Foundation (SF) found the largest known Sumatran rhino population on the island of Borneo. Together we run rhino monitoring units to prevent poaching. WWF also works with local landholders, agri-businesses, and the government to stop the conversion of more than 7,722 square miles of forest to oil palm and timber plantations between Kinabatangan and Sebuku Sembakung. The destruction of this forest would likely lead to poaching of the remaining Sumatran rhinos in the area. Monitoring and Tracking Javan Rhinos WWF conducts ongoing research on the Javan rhino, which continues to reveal critical information about behavioral patterns, distribution, movement, population size, sex ratio and genetic diversity. We also work closely with the Ujung Kulon National Park Authority to keep track of rhino populations. In 2010, we received camera trap footage of two Javan rhinos and two of their calves in the dense tropical rainforests of the protected area. The videos prove that one of the world’s rarest mammals are breeding.

Before these camera trap images surfaced, only twelve other Javan rhino births were recorded in the past decade. Establishing New Populations WWF and its partners are working on the development of a program to translocate Javan rhinos from Ujung Kulon National Park to establish a new population in other suitable habitat in Indonesia. This new habitat would eliminate the threat of natural disasters and create two populations. Monitoring and Protection of White Rhinos To monitor and protect white rhinos WWF focuses on better-integrated intelligence gathering networks on rhino poaching and trade, more antipoaching patrols and better equipped conservation law enforcement officers. WWF is setting up an Africa-wide rhino database using rhino horn DNA analysis (RhoDIS), which contributes to forensic investigations at the scene of the crime and for court evidence to greatly strengthen prosecution cases. In South Africa and Kenya, it has been circulated into law as legal evidence in courts and rhino management. This work is done with institutions like the University of Pretoria Veterinary Genetics Laboratory. We also support a South African white rhino web-based data system. Strengthening Local and International Law Enforcement WWF supports accredited training in environmental and crime courses, some of which have been adopted by South Africa Wildlife College.

Special prosecutors have been appointed in countries like Kenya and South Africa to prosecute rhino crimes in a bid to deal with the mounting arrests and bring criminals to face swift justice with commensurate penalties. TRAFFIC, the world’s largest wildlife trade monitoring network, has played a vital role in bilateral law enforcement efforts between South Africa and Vietnam. This has gone hand-in-hand with written commitments to strengthen border and ports monitoring as well as information sharing in order to disrupt the illegal trade chain activities and bring the perpetrators to justice for their crimes against rhinos. Facts About Rhinos Facts About Rhinos By Alina Bradford, Live Science Contributor | March 23, 2016 05:34pm ET MORE Credit: Tim_Booth | Shutterstock Rhinoceroses are large, herbivorous mammals identified by their characteristic horned snouts. The word "rhinoceros" comes from the Greek "rhino" (nose) and "ceros" (horn). There are five species and 11 subspecies of rhino; some have two horns, while others have one. Because the animals' horns are used in folk medicine for their supposed healing properties, rhinos have been hunted nearly to extinction.

Their horns are sometimes sold as trophies or decorations, but more often they are ground up and used in traditional Chinese medicine . The powder is often added to food or brewed in a tea in the belief that the horns are a powerful aphrodisiac, a hangover cure and treatment for fever, rheumatism, gout and other disorders, according to the International Rhino Foundation . Conservation status Save the Rhino estimates that there were 500,000 rhinos across Africa and Asia at the beginning of the 20th century. Today, the group says, there are 29,000 rhinos in the wild. Poaching and loss of habitat have put all rhino species in danger of extinction. [ Related: 2013 Was Record Year for Rhino Poaching in South Africa ] According to International Union for Conservation of Nature's Red List of Threatened Species : A black rhino carcass with the horn hacked off. Credit: Lowveld Trust. Black rhinos , Sumatran rhinos and Javan rhinos are "critically endangered," which is the list's highest risk category.

There are 5,055 black rhinos, fewer than 100 Sumatran rhinos and only 35 to 44 Javan rhinos. [ Related: Javan Rhino Officially Extinct in Vietnam ] Greater one-horned rhinos are "vulnerable," which means they may become endangered unless circumstances improve. Fortunately, their population is increasing; there are 3,333 greater one-horned rhinos in the world. The total population estimate in 2007 was 2,575 individuals, according to the IUCN. White rhinos are "near threatened," which means they may be considered threatened by extinction in the near future. Southern white rhinos have an increasing population; there are 20,405 southern white rhinos. However, the northern white rhino is considered "extinct" in the wild. In 2009, four northern white rhinos were moved from a zoo in the Czech Republic to a private conservancy in Kenya in the hope that they would breed, according to the IUCN . On Oct.

18, 2014, Ol Pejeta Conservancy announced that one of them, one of the last two breeding males, had died. He was not a victim of poaching, however, and the conservancy was investigating the cause of death. There are now only three northern white rhinos left in the world, all living in captivity, according to the World Wildlife Fund . The captive northern white rhinos include a male (named Sudan) and two females — Najin and Fatu — all of which live in the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. The two females are incapable of a successful pregnancy: Najin is too old and issues with her legs make it impossible for her to support the weight of a mounting male; Fatu has a uterine condition that will likely keep her from breeding, according to experts. With natural breeding attempts nixed for the northern white rhinos, conservationists have turned to in vitro fertilization. However, IVF in these rhinoceroses comes with its own set of challenges, including figuring out how to get immature eggs to develop outside of the female's body and also how to inject sperm into these eggs.

As for the Sumatran rhinos, they are hanging on by a thread as well. Along with the Javan rhino, Sumatran rhinos are barely hanging on in the wild. They went extinct in Vietnam in 2010 and in Malaysia in 2015 , according to the International Rhino Foundation. Small populations of the subspecies survive in three national parks in Sumatra. And in March 2016, conservationists captured a live Sumatran rhinoceros in the Indonesian part of the island of Borneo for the first time. Though a camera-trap image snapped in 2013 revealed Sumatran rhinos did survive in this region called Kalimantan, the capture of the female marked the first time in 40 years that humans had physically contacted a live Sumatran rhino there. Rhino horns Rhino horns are made of keratin, which is also the key component of human hair and fingernails . But the horns are not just dense clumps of hair. CT scans have shown dense mineral deposits of calcium and melanin in the core of the horn.

The calcium makes the horn stronger, and the melanin protects it from the sun's UV rays, according to scientists at Ohio University. The horns are similar to horse hooves, turtle beaks and cockatoo bills, said Tobin Hieronymus, an OU doctoral student. Rhino horns tend to curve backward , toward the head, because the keratin in front grows faster than the keratin in the back, Hieronymus told Live Science. The outside of the horn is rather soft and can be worn down or sharpened after years of use, according to the San Diego Zoo . If a horn breaks off, it can gradually grow back. Black rhinos, white rhinos and Sumatran rhinos have two horns. Javan rhinos and greater one-horned rhinos have one. On the black rhino, the front horn can grow to 20 to 51 inches (51 to 130 centimeters), while the rear horn can grow to about 20 inches, according to the International Rhino Foundation.

A white rhino's horns are slightly smaller, and a Sumatran rhinos horns are about 10 to 31 inches (25 to 79 cm) for the front and less than 3 inches (7 cm) for the rear. The greater one-horned rhino's horn is 8 to 24 inches (20 to 61 cm), and Javan rhinos have a horn that is about 10 inches (25 cm) long. How big are rhinos? The largest rhino species is the white rhino, according to the San Diego Zoo . It grows to 12 to 13 feet (3.7 to 4 meters) long and up to 6 feet (1.8 m) from hoof to shoulder. It weighs around 5,000 lbs. (2,300 kilograms). The smallest rhino species is the Sumatran rhino. It grows to 8 to 10 feet (2.5 to 3 m) long and up to 4.8 feet (1.5 m) from hoof to shoulder. The Sumatran rhino weighs around 1,765 lbs.

(800 kg). Habitat White rhinos and black rhinos live in the grasslands and floodplains of eastern and southern Africa. Greater one-horned rhinos can be found in the swamps and rain forests of northern India and southern Nepal. Sumatran and Javan rhinos are found only in small areas of Malaysian and Indonesian swamps and rain forests. Rhinos spend their days and nights grazing and only sleep during the hottest parts of the day. During the rare times when they aren't eating, they can be found enjoying a cooling mud soak. These soaks also help to protect the animals from bugs, and the mud is a natural sunblock, according to National Geographic . Though rhinos are often solitary, they do occasionally form groups. Called crashes, these groups are made up of a female and her offspring. A dominant male rules over an area of land. The male will allow some sub-dominate males to live on his territory. Females roam freely around several different territories. Diet Rhinoceroses are herbivores, which means they eat only vegetation. The type of vegetation they eat varies by species. This is because their snouts are different shapes to accommodate different types of food, according to National Geographic .

For example, the black rhino eats trees or bushes because its long lips allow it to pick leaves and fruit from up high. The white rhino has a flat-shaped snout that lets it get closer to the ground for eating grass. Offspring Every two and a half to five years, a female rhino will reproduce. Female rhinos carry their young for a gestation period of 15 to 16 months. They usually only have one baby at a time, though they do sometimes have twins. At birth, baby rhinos, which are called calves, are still quite big, at 88 to 140 lbs. (40 to 64 kg), according to the San Diego Zoo. At around 3 years old, the calf will set out on its own. A rhino can live up to 45 years. Classification/taxonomy According to the Integrated Taxonomic Information System (ITIS), the taxonomy of rhinos is: Kingdom: Animalia Family: Rhinocerotidae Genera & species: White rhinos: Ceratotherium simum (southern white rhinoceros), Ceratotherium cottoni (northern white rhinoceros).

IUCN lists these as subspecies of Ceratotherium simum. Sumatran rhinos: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis (also called hairy rhino, Asian two-horned rhino). Subspecies: Dicerorhinus sumatrensis harrisoni, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis lasiotis, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis sumatransis Black rhinos: Diceros bicornis (black rhino).Subspecies: Diceros bicornis bicornis, Diceros bicornis brucii, Diceros bicornis chobiensis, Diceros bicornis ladoensis, Diceros bicornis longipes, Diceros bicornis michaeli, Diceros bicornis minor, Diceros bicornis occidentalis Javan rhinos: Rhinoceros unicornis Greater one-horned rhinos: Rhinoceros sondaicus (also called Indian rhino).

Subspecies: Rhinoceros sondaicus annamiticus, Rhinoceros sondaicus inermis, Rhinoceros sondaicus sondaicus Other facts Fewer than 250 Sumatran rhinos (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) are left in the wild. Credit: Copyright Save the Rhino International Though rhinos don't often hang out with each other, they do hang out with birds. The oxpecker will sit on a rhino's back and eat the bugs that crawl on the rhino's skin. That's not the only thing this bird is good for. When danger approaches, the bird will call out, warning the rhino. When rhinos are happy, they make a loud "mmwonk" sound with their mouths. Black rhinos are not actually black, according to the International Rhino Foundation. They probably got that name from the dark, muddy soil they like to wallow in or to distinguish them from white rhinos. Poachers also value rhino horns for making ornamental dagger handles called jambiyas, according to Save the Rhino.

This type of handle became a status symbol in Yemen in the 1970s and '80s, fueled by the oil boom, when more people could afford luxury items. Jambiyas can be made from precious metal, buffalo hide or plastic, but those made from rhino horn were considered the "Rolex" version. Save the Rhino reports that this use of rhino horn has accounted for fewer poaching incidents in recent years. The woolly rhino died out about 10,000 years ago. Fossils have been discovered throughout Europe and Asia, according to the International Rhino Foundation. Early humans hunted these animals, and they were depicted in paintings on cave walls in France 30,000 years ago. Additional resources Sumatran Tiger | Species | WWF Sumatran Tiger Adopt a Tigerh Overview This tiger subspecies is found only on the Indonesian island of Sumatra. Fewer than 400 Sumatran tigers exist today. In 1978, experts estimated the population of Sumatran tigers at 1,000.

CR Status e Habitats Tropical broadleaf evergreen forests, freshwater swamp forests and peat swamps Sumatran tigers are the smallest surviving tiger subspecies and are distinguished by heavy black stripes on their orange coats. The last of Indonesia’s tigers—as few as 400 today—are holding on for survival in the remaining patches of forests on the island of Sumatra. Accelerating deforestation and rampant poaching mean this noble creature could end up like its extinct Javan and Balinese relatives. In Indonesia, anyone caught hunting tigers could face jail time and steep fines. But despite increased efforts in tiger conservation—including strengthening law enforcement and antipoaching capacity—a substantial market remains in Sumatra and the rest of Asia for tiger parts and products. Sumatran tigers are losing their habitat and prey fast, and poaching shows no sign of decline. A better road ahead for wild tigers Earlier this year, WWF estimated an increase in the number of tigers worldwide, up to 3,890 in 2016 from an estimated 3,200 in 2010.

But success to date is tenous: According to a new report from WWF, tigers now face a threat far greater than many we’ve tackled before: linear infrastructure. Continue Reading h More Stories h Why They Matter The island of Sumatra is the only place where tigers, rhinos, orangutans and elephants live together. The presence of the Sumatran tiger is an important indicator of a forest's biodiversity. Protecting tigers and their habitat means many other species benefit—including humans. Threats No reasonable doubt that the last individual has died EW Known only to survive in cultivation, in captivity or as a naturalised population CR Facing an extremely high risk of extinction in the Wild EN Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild VU Facing a high risk of extinction in the Wild NT Likely to qualify for a threatened category in the near future LC Does not qualify for Critically Endangered, Endangered, Vulnerable, or Near Threatened Habitat Loss Habitat for the Sumatran tiger has been drastically reduced by clearing for agriculture, plantations and settlement. On many parts of the island, illegal timber harvesting and forest conversion are out of control.

About 16.6 million acres of forest—larger than the state of West Virginia—were lost in Sumatra between 1985 and 1997. Even protected areas face problems. In addition, forest conversion has isolated national parks from one another. Illegal Wildlife Trade Most tigers in Sumatra are killed deliberately for commercial gain. According to a survey from TRAFFIC, the global wildlife trade monitoring network, poaching for trade is responsible for over 78% of estimated Sumatran tiger deaths—amounting to at least 40 animals per year. Despite intensified conservation and protection measures in Sumatra and the apparent global success in curtailing markets for tiger bone, there is no evidence that tiger poaching has declined significantly on the island since the early 1990s. Human-Wildlife Conflict Habitat destruction forces tigers into settled areas in search of food and where they are more likely to come into conflict with people. Human-tiger conflict is a serious problem in Sumatra. People have been killed or wounded, and livestock fall prey to tigers. Retaliatory action by villagers can result in the killing of tigers.

“With so much deforestation and poaching in Sumatra, wild tigers face a very difficult future, but we have the tools available to reverse their decline if the clearance of their forest can be halted.” Dr. Barney Long Asian Species Expert What WWF Is Doing Antipoaching and Conflict Mitigation Efforts WWF works to decrease Sumatran tiger poaching incidents and helps law enforcement officers increase surveillance. WWF Tiger Protection Units patrol vulnerable areas, gather intelligence against wildlife crime, and help keep forests safe by removing poachers' traps and snares. The units have eliminated or drastically reduced poaching where they operate. In addition to educating communities about how to live with tigers, the units also respond to reports of human-tiger conflict and captured tigers. Influencing Land-Use Planning WWF helps design land-use plans that incorporate critical wildlife habitat. Sumatra’s district and provincial governments are integrating this information into their plans, including zoning decisions and concessions for economic activities. Along with WWF’s efforts to mitigate the palm, pulp and paper, and timber industries’ impact on the island’s biodiversity, this work helps Sumatra balance environmental realities with people’s social and economic needs.

Protecting Tiger Habitat WWF successfully lobbied corporate partners and the Indonesian state government to declare the Tesso Nilo tiger landscape a protected area in 2004. It is most likely the last remaining block of lowland tropical rainforest for tigers in Sumatra. Using the momentum of the Year of the Tiger in 2010, WWF pushed for six priority landscapes for tigers to be included in the National Tiger Recovery Program, which was adopted as a global program by 13 tiger range countries. Monitoring Tigers Camera trap used to obtain images of Sumatran tigers WWF is undertaking groundbreaking research on tigers in central Sumatra. Using camera traps to estimate population size and distribution as well as habitat use, we identify wildlife corridors that require protection across the central Sumatran tiger landscape. Rhinoceros | Rhino Rhinoceros The Scoop Big and Fast There are five species of Rhinoceros- Black and White Rhinos, Sumatran and Javan Rhinos, and the Greater One Horned Rhino. The black and white species are found in open grasslands and floodplains, while the other three species prefer swamps and forests.

The word rhinoceros comes from the Greek words ‘rhino’ meaning ‘nose’ and ‘ceros’ meaning ‘horn’ - and the horn is the rhinoceros’ most distinguishing feature. Javan rhinos and greater one-horned rhinos have only one horn, while Sumatran rhinos, black rhinos, and white rhinos have two. Rhinos have big heads, thick legs, poor eyesight and excellent hearing. They also love to roll in mud! Rhinos have a special relationship with tick birds or oxpeckers. The bird feeds on ticks that it finds on the rhinos skin, and in return, it nosily warns the rhino of approaching danger. The Facts Genus/Species: Rhinocerotidae, 5 species Location: Parts of Africa and Asia. Rhinos are big! The biggest is the white rhino which can be as long as two adults lying head to toe - around 12 to 13 feet. The white rhino can weigh as much as 5000 pounds, or as much as a big car. The other species are smaller- but still big and heavy. Rhinos are vegetarians.

The black rhino is a browser and eats leaves, shoots, bushes and trees. The white rhino is a grazer, feeding on grasses. Rhinos rank among the most endangered species on Earth and face a serious threat from poaching. The only way to ensure their survival is to secure them in protected areas such as sanctuaries. Did You Know? In spite of their huge size, rhinos can move pretty fast. A black rhino, when startled, can thunder along as fast as a car- around 40 miles an hour. You may think rhinos are thick skinned, but their skin is actually quite sensitive to sunburn and insect bite- which is why they love to wallow in mud to cool off. A white rhino’s head alone can weigh 1000 pounds- which is why they have a hump of muscle on their head and shoulders to hold it up. The black rhino and white rhino are both actually grayish in color.

Rhinoceros | San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants San Diego Zoo Animals & Plants Diceros bicornis, Ceratotherium simum, Dicerorhinus sumatrensis, Rhinoceros unicornis, Rhinoceros sondaicus CLASS: Mammalia (Mammals) ORDER: Perissodactyla FAMILY: Rhinocerotidae GENUS AND SPECIES: Diceros bicornis (black rhino), Ceratotherium simum (white rhino), Dicerorhinus sumatrensis (Sumatran rhino), Rhinoceros unicornis (greater one-horned rhino), Rhinoceros sondaicus (Javan rhino) ABOUT Ambassadors from another age: The rhinoceros looks as though it has lumbered into our time from some primeval era. Its heavyset body stands on sturdy legs like tree trunks. Its eyes peer from a massive head that tapers to that battering ram of a horn. In our imaginations, the rhino is the embodiment of brute strength. Yet most of the time this fearsome creature is content to browse peacefully on vegetation.

The rhino’s lineage is an ancient one—its ancestors walked the Earth 55 million years ago. One of these ancestors, the paraceratherium, was 25 feet (7.6 meters) long and 18 feet (5.5 meters) high at the shoulder, the largest land mammal ever known. Throughout the eons, close to 100 known rhinoceros species have existed. Today, only five species continue the line: two native to Africa and three native to Asia. What all rhinos have in common are one or two horns, a broad chest, thick skin, poor eyesight, excellent hearing, and a fondness for rolling in the mud. Their thick skin acts like protective plating but is sensitive, as the blood vessels are close to the skin’s surface, and can be easily scarred. Rhinos soak in mud or roll in dust as protection against sunburn and insect bites. Because rhinos are very nearsighted, they often charge when startled; in the wild, rhinos have been observed charging at boulders or trees. This defense mechanism has given them an undeserved reputation for having a bad temper.

Their ears can move independently of each other, and one may be cocked forward while the other is directed backward, or both may perk straight up when an interesting sound that requires total concentration is detected. The rhinoceros gets its name from its most famous feature: horns. The word rhinoceroscomes from the Greek words rhino (nose) and ceros (horn). A rhino’s horn is made of keratin, the same material that makes up our fingernails and hair. Javan rhinos and greater one-horned rhinos have one horn on top of the nose, while Sumatran rhinos, black rhinos, and white rhinos have two. Horns vary in size, with black rhinos and white rhinos having much longer horns than the other three species. Rhino horns don’t have a bony core like other mammal horns have, and the outside of the horn is rather soft and can be worn down or sharpened after years of use. If a horn breaks off, it can gradually grow back.

The importance of wallowing: All rhinos enjoy a good soak in the mud, but for the Asian species, this becomes vitally important to help the animals get through times of high humidity, when insects can be a problem. Plus, that cool mud feels so good! Rhinos may often share a wallowing spot without any fighting, as if it is neutral ground. White rhinos may create their own shallow mud holes by rolling in watery depressions in the earth. An unusual relationship: Rhino vision is notoriously poor, but they respond to the alarm calls of other sharper-eyed animals, including a bird called the oxpecker. This small bird lives in a mutual arrangement with the African rhinos. The birds hop on a rhino’s back, plucking tasty ticks and other parasites off the rhino’s skin, even entering the ears and nostrils to get those hard-to-reach morsels. The oxpeckers get a full belly, and the rhino gets rid of some irritating bugs.

The birds also raise a horrible ruckus whenever they spot trouble for their “friend.” A group of rhinos is sometimes called a “crash”—an appropriate term for a large and ponderous animal that can crash through just about anything in its way. White rhinos have a hump of muscle on their neck and shoulders to hold up a head that can weigh 800 to 1,000 pounds (362 to 454 kilograms). But while rhinos may look indestructible, their skin is actually quite sensitive, especially to sunburn and biting insects. HABITAT AND DIET Meet the rhinos: White rhinos and black rhinos are found in small pockets of eastern and southern Africa, living in grassland and floodplain habitats. Greater one-horned rhinos live in northern India and southern Nepal; and Sumatran and Javan rhinos live in small areas of Malaysia and Indonesia—all three making their homes in swamps and rain forest habitats. All three Asian rhino species are excellent swimmers. African Black rhinos and white rhinos are the same color: they're both brownish gray! How the white rhino came to be called “white” is uncertain.

One account says that South Africa's early Boer settlers called it wijde, Dutch for “wide,” which could refer to the wide lip or the size of the animal. The wide mouth of the white rhino is perfect for grazing on grasses, while the more narrow, prehensile lip of the black rhino is great for pulling leaves and shrubs into its mouth. Other names used for these two rhino species are “broad-lipped” and "hook-lipped." Guess which name belongs to which rhino! Both species share Africa’s savanna habitats, as they don’t compete for food. Black rhinos can go for up to five days without drinking water, getting needed moisture from succulent plants. White rhinos, the largest of the five rhino species, crop grasses so short when they graze in their habitat that they create “grazing lawns” that benefit smaller herbivores and serve as firebreaks. The mouth of the greater one-horned rhino looks like a cross between broad-lipped and hook-lipped. Although it is fairly broad, the mouth has a small, prehensile lip.

The greater one-horned rhino is both a grazer and a browser, depending upon available food. Many people describe these rhinos as armor-plated, but they are actually covered with a layer of skin that has many folds. Greater one-horned rhinos, formerly called Indian rhinos, are native to humid, swampy areas of Northeast India and Nepal. The International Rhino Foundation is working to increase this rhino's population in India. It is on its way to reaching a goal of 3,000 rhinos in India and Nepal by the year 2020. The Javan rhino has a single horn, like the greater one-horned rhino. It is also called the lesser one-horned rhino. Javan rhinos are very rare in the heavily forested areas of Southeast Asia, and they are probably the rarest of the rhino species. Scientists have devised an interesting way of counting them. Throughout the rain forest, they have set up cameras with sensors. When a rhino passes the sensor, the camera takes its picture! The scientists can then count them.

So little is know about this rhino species, and learning more about these jungle rhinos in the wild will help protect them from becoming extinct. Sadly, there are fewer than 50 Javan rhinos in the wild, and none in zoos. The World Wildlife Fund has called the Javan rhino the world’s most endangered large mammal species. The Sumatran rhinoceros is the smallest of the rhinos and is the only rhino covered with a coat of shaggy hair. The Sumatran rhino is considered to be the most primitive, being closely related to the long-extinct wooly rhino. Like the Javan rhino, it is critically endangered, with around 200 animals left in the world. Once found from the Himalayan foothills to Vietnam, it survives today in a few scattered populations in what little forest habitat is left on the island of Sumatra. There has been little success in breeding this species in zoos. Dining all day: All rhinos are herbivores, spending the majority of the morning, late afternoon, and nighttime eating grasses or leaves, depending on the species. During the hottest part of the day, they rest.

Their horns are used to dig up roots and break branches for better access to food. At the San Diego Zoo and San Diego Zoo Safari Park, the rhinos are fed hay and high-fiber biscuits, along with carrots and apples. FAMILY LIFE Rhinos have an interesting social system. The dominant male, or bull, occupies a small, exclusive territory, allowing only one or two subordinate males to share the territory with him. Neighboring dominant bulls show unusual respect for the territory boundaries and rarely trespass except to get water during the dry season. They won’t even follow a receptive female into another bull’s territory. Dominant bulls invest a great deal of time and energy just patrolling their territory, marking it with urine and defecating in dung heaps that serve as a community bulletin board. Subordinate bulls put little effort into such communication with scent, always deferring to the dominant bull when they meet up. The three Asian rhino species have tusks, and they use these enlarged incisors rather than their stubby horns when fighting or defending their territory. Greater one-horned rhino bulls develop longer tusks than the females. A bull may confront a rival by opening his mouth to show off his tusks.

The two African species lack these tusks and so use their horns for defense or fights. Fights among rhinos can sometimes led to death; 50 percent of black rhino bulls and 30 percent of females die from wounds received during a fight. No other mammal has such a high death rate from this type of combat. Females are not territorial and move through large home ranges that overlap with many other females. Several male territories may lie within a single female’s home range. Adult white rhino females are more social than black rhinos and often stay in small groups of up to a dozen or so that include calves and subadults. To choose a male, all a female has to do is show up in his territory when she’s ready to mate. The bull approaches the female with a series of “hic-pants,” a breathy inhalation followed by a hiccup. He may rest his chin on her rump to test whether she will tolerate a mating. If successful, a calf is born 15 to 16 months later. Although wobbly at first, the newborn is soon able to stand on its feet and starts to nurse two to three hours after birth.

The calf begins nibbling on solid food at 7 to 10 days of age, although it continues to nurse until it’s 12 to 18 months old; white rhino male calves nurse even longer than female calves, as they will grow much larger as adults. The mother guards her calf carefully from predators such as large cats, hyenas, and crocodiles, as well as from adult male rhinos. Calves and subadults often play, practicing their sparring and head-tossing techniques. A rhino mother may tend to her calf for up to four years unless she has another baby, in which case she pushes her older calf into independence to make way for the new arrival. The exception is the Sumatran rhino: calves stay with the mother for two to three years, but it may be two years more before she gives birth again. Rhinos have a variety of vocalizations to get their message across, from a lion-like growl and elephant-like trumpet during a fight to a squeak that can mean “I’m lost” or “Where are you?” Long and short snorts are used for anger, alarm, or when the rhino is startled, and high-pitched screams indicate fear.

A “mmwonk” is a deep, resonant sound that signals content. AT THE ZOO The San Diego Zoo's first rhinoceros arrived in 1952—a two-year-old black rhino calf from Kenya. Named Sally, she was an immediate hit with zoogoers. However, despite two mates, she failed to breed. Finally, 40 years after Sally’s arrival, a black rhino was born here in 1992. He was named Werikhe in honor of Michael Werikhe, “the rhino man”—a Kenyan conservationist known for his long "rhino walks” to educate people about the plight of the rhino and to raise money to support rhino reserves. He is a good example of what one person can do to make a difference! Greater one-horned rhinos first came to the Zoo in 1963, and this species was among the original animals at the San Diego Zoo Safari Park when it opened to the public in 1972. Just three years later, the Park welcomed its first greater one-horned rhino calf and has had breeding success with this species ever since.

In 1971, 20 southern white rhinos arrived at the Safari Park from South Africa to become the founding generation of the Park’s white rhino herd. From the original 20 animals, which we refer to as the founder animals, 94 more have been born, including our newest calf, Kianga, born in October 2015. Most of these have moved on to live in other facilities around the world. Kids love to climb all over our life-sized bronze statue of Mandala, a male white rhino brought to the Park from the San Diego Zoo. Mandala had lived with a female partner at the Zoo, but the two rhinos had never showed any romantic interest in each other. When Mandala arrived at the Park, he was inspired by its larger exhibit space and by the other females that had been brought from South Africa. He fathered the first white rhino to be born at the Park. When his former Zoo mate joined the Park's herd a bit later, she, too, had a calf. Mandala went on to sire 50 offspring! A founder female, Nthombi, raised 10 calves of her own and was a surrogate mother to 2 more.

Born in Africa in 1966, she is currently the oldest of our rhinos, living in the twilight of her life. Today, the San Diego Zoo Safari Park has the largest crash of rhinos and the most successful managed-care breeding program for rhinos anywhere in the world. We currently have eastern black rhinos, southern white rhinos, and greater one-horned rhinos. The Park holds the record for the most rhinos born in a zoo: 176 from 3 species, including 5 generations of black rhinos and 7 generations of greater one-horned rhinos. One of our youngest calves is a fifth-generation greater one-horned rhino, the first such birth in the world! CONSERVATION For centuries, the rhino existed largely unchallenged by other animals. But the advent of high-powered weapons brought a new and deadly enemy: humans. Over the ages, rhino horn has been used to treat illnesses, especially fevers. Yet like our fingernails and hair, rhino horn is made of keratin and has no healing properties.

In Africa, thousands of rhinos were slaughtered each year just for their horn, used for traditional medicines in Asia and dagger handles in the Middle East. By the early 1990s, the population of black rhinos had been reduced by 96 percent and today stands at just over 5,000 animals. To try to stop the slaughter, African countries began working to protect their rhinos, China no longer approved the use of rhino horn for traditional medicines, and countries in the Middle East promoted dagger handles made of synthetic materials. These efforts reduced rhino poaching measurably. Today, however, that has all changed, and the increasing price paid for rhino horn encourages greedy folks, eager for quick cash and now often affiliated with criminal syndicates, to kill these magnificent animals just for their horns. Intensive anti-poaching and habitat protection efforts in the wild have helped some rhinos make a comeback. Poaching in Indonesia has been almost eliminated, thanks to that country’s Rhino Protection Units, and Sumatran rhino population numbers are on the rise, now reaching about 100 animals. But there is still heavy poaching in South Africa; that country’s average loss is about three rhinos per day.

And there are fears that the Javan rhino may soon become extinct, as so few of them can be found. Fewer than 50 Javan rhinos live in a national park on Java, Indonesia, where they are protected; it is believed that there are no Javan rhinos anywhere else. And there are now just three northern white rhinos Ceratotherium simum cottoni left on Earth, all of them in the care of the Ol Pejeta Conservancy in Kenya. Help for rhinos: San Diego Zoo Global has done a great deal of conservation work with rhinos, especially once our San Diego Zoo Safari Park opened in the 1970s. The Safari Park has the most successful captive breeding program for rhinoceroses in the world. There have been 94 southern white rhinos, 68 greater one-horned rhinos, and 13 black rhinos born at the Park since it opened 43 years ago, an important achievement for three species that are facing severe threats in the wild.

Joining partners from around the world that support the International Rhino Foundation, San Diego Zoo Global is working to save the greater one-horned rhinoceros by translocating animals into safe habitat in Manas National Park, Assam. Currently, there are about 3,300 greater one-horned rhinos in native habitat. All rhino species, whether in Asia or Africa, are critically endangered, but we won't give up hope as we continue to closely monitor radio-collared rhinos for years to come. Long-term conservation is our goal, as well as enlisting local community support for rhino recovery. San Diego Zoo Global supports the International Rhino Foundation by an annual grant and by having the Safari Park’s curator of mammals, Randy Rieches, sit on its board of directors. This support allows us to help fund conservation and rhino protection units in every country that rhinos are found. Visiting the San Diego Zoo and the Safari Park helps support rhino conservation, too. We can all work together to ensure a future for rhinos. You can help us bring species back from the brink by supporting the San Diego Zoo Global Wildlife Conservancy . Together we can save and protect wildlife around the globe. Sounds

Question: Black, White, Sumatran and Javan are varieties of which endangered species of animal?
Answer: Rhinoceros