Rhinos on the Brink: The Urgent Fight for Survival and Conservation

SAIKAT K BASU

Introduction 

Rhinoceroses, or rhinos, are large, thick-skinned herbivorous mammals native to Africa and parts of Asia. There are five main species: white rhino, black rhino, Indian (or greater one-horned) rhino, Javan rhino, and Sumatran rhino. They are known for their massive bodies, relatively short legs, and one or two horns on their snouts, which are made of keratin (the same protein that makes up human hair and nails).

(The different rhino species across the planet.  Source: https://wildlifesos.org/knowing-the-worlds-rhinos/)

The distribution or range of rhino species around the world  

The range overview of the five existing rhinoceros species in the world today:

1. White Rhinoceros (Ceratotherium simum)

Subspecies:

A. Southern white rhino (C. s. simum) — mostly found in southern Africa.

B. Northern white rhino (C. s. cottoni) — formerly found in Central Africa (now functionally extinct in the wild).

Current Range: South Africa, Namibia, Zimbabwe, Kenya, Botswana, Uganda.

Habitat: Grasslands and savannahs.

2. Black Rhinoceros (Diceros bicornis)

Current Range:

Current range: Small pockets in southern and eastern Africa, especially Namibia, South Africa, Kenya, Tanzania, Zimbabwe.

Historic Range: Wider areas across sub-Saharan Africa.

Habitat: Bushland, savannahs, woodlands, semi-desert.