World Rhino Day: A Call to Action for Global Rhino Conservation

Rhino Day History
Facts about Rhinos
Importance
Timeline
Statistics that Matter
How to Celebrate World Rhino Day?
Domestication and Care
World Rhino Day Dates
FAQs

The rhinoceros (mostly known as the rhino) is a magnificent and powerful herbivorous mammal that is currently very near to be extinct. It is due to different factors just like poaching and habitat loss, which is making them critically endangered in the wild. In order to preserve these magnificent creatures, world rhino day is celebrated every year on 22 September.

Rhino Day History

From 1990 to 2009, world witnessed a very severe decline in the population of rhinos all around. Due to this scenario, WWF-South Africa declared a day for the rhinos in 2010 to protect the remaining individuals in the wild. This day became popular in the world after an email, sent by Lisa Jane Campbell to Rhishja in 2011. They just wanted to ensure that all 5 rhino species continue to live well.

Facts about Rhinos

Common Name

Scientific Name

Number of Species

Population Size

Lifespan

Weight

Length

Top Speed

Predator

Prey

Most Distinctive Feature

Rhino

Rhinocerotidae

5 (White, Black, Indian, Javan, Sumatran)

Around 26,272

Around 40-50 years

1,720 – 3,080 pounds (black), 3,080 – 7,920 (white)

2.8 – 3.8 meter (black), 3.7 – 4 meter (white)

Around 55 km/h

Humans, Lions, Tigers

Grasses, fruits, and leaves

Horns (1 or 2) on the nose

Importance

World rhino day is an awareness event that is celebrated every year by involving all the N.G.O.s, wildlife conservation centers, zoos, and research centers. This day strongly discourages the activities that harm the rhinos such as poaching practices. This event is not only to spread awareness among the individuals about the declining population of rhinos but also encourage youth to play their role to conserve them.

Timeline

Million Years Back

Hazy rhinoceros

The very first hazy rhinoceros was witnessed in china.

1647

Poaching threats

During the colonial era, rhinos faced poaching threats for the purpose of sport.

1970 – 1980

Demand of rhino horns

In Asian countries, poaching started to touch sky with the increasing demand for rhino horns.

1977

CITES declaration

Trade of rhino horns was declared to be illegal by the CITES.

1993

Rhino horns trade banned

The medicinal uses and domestic trade of rhino horns got banned by Chinese government.

2011

A day for rhinos

A day for rhinos was declared to be celebrated to save them to be extinct.

Statistics that Matter

Rhino horns are made of keratin, not bone
“Rhinoceros” consists of 2 Greek words: rhino and ceros, meaning nose and horn
The gestation period of rhinos is for 15 – 16 months
Being biggest animals in world, they can grow 1.8m tall with 2,500 kg weight
Only 29,000 rhinos are remaining in the wild due to illegal hunting
Rhinos are able to see objects at the distance of 98 feet

How to Celebrate World Rhino Day?

Save the Rhino

Support the trustworthy organizations which are serving to save the rhinos, such as “World Wildlife Federation” (WWF), “Save the Rhino International”, and “International Rhino Foundation”. On the related note, got the scoop of the successful revival of Indian Rhinoceros‘ population? Join the movement to protect these magnificent animals from poaching and habitat loss at World Rhino Day.

Educate and Explore

Visit some library on find out on internet about the rhinos. Explore the species of rhinos and their needs. Not only this, you can teach your children to let them know about this fascinating creature.

Unite Against Poaching

Organize a party in honor of rhino day. Invite all your friends and family members to educate them about the life of rhinos and the threats they are currently facing. You can also organize a peaceful protest to educate people for ending poaching.

Domestication and Care

Rhinos are the wild animals which are completely unsuitable for domestication. This is due to their specific needs and behavior. Their domestication or care is not as easy as it sounds. So, instead of domesticating them, try to help them out in their natural habitat. Fund the organizations which are working for the betterment of rhinos.

World Rhino Day Dates

Year	Date	Day
2024	September 22	Sunday
2025	September 22	Monday
2026	September 22	Tuesday
2027	September 22	Wednesday
2028	September 22	Friday

World Elephant Day Dates (theinfox.com)

FAQs

Due to severe threats liking poaching and illegal hunting, only about 29,000 rhinos are left in the wild. This is a finding of the World Wide Fund for Nature.

It’s very clear while looking at a rhino! Since, there are 5 species of rhinos, named: 1. White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum) 2. Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis) 3. Indian Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros unicornis) 4. Javan Rhinoceros (Rhinoceros sondaicus) 5. Sumatran Rhinoceros (Dicerorhinus sumatrensis) From these species, white rhinos, black rhinos, and Sumatran rhinos have 2 horns, but Javan rhinos and Indian rhinos have only 1 horn.

This is due to the illegal trade or hunting and poaching threats, faced by the rhinos. For example, the main threat for black rhinos is the high demand for rhino horns on the illegal international market, which is mainly prominent in Asia.