a mounted rhino horn

The most significant feature of a rhino is its horn.  A rhino’s horn is not a true horn – not a bone – it is thick matted hair made of a substance that is found in people’s nails and hair.  Some animal experts believe that the rhino’s horn is the source of inspiration for creating a mythical creature called ‘unicorn’ – a horse-like animal with one long horn on its forehead!

rhino horn knife handle

This harmless feature is the major factor for the drastic decline in the numbers of the rhino population because, in some Asian cultures, it is believed that the powder of the rhino horn not only cures all diseases but also improves a man’s sexual performance, which, according to the scientists, is a false belief – just a myth.

In addition, the horn is also used in ornamental carvings, and as the handles of daggers worn by men, which, in countries like Yemen, an Arab country on the Arabian Peninsula in Southwest Asia, has become a status symbol.  As a result, the horn was once in such great demand that a pair was sold for $ 50,000 on the black the market!!

Though the rhino is a bulky animal with short legs, it can run (rather dash) at  high speed.

Rhinoceroses have poor eye-sight, i.e. they cannot see things well, but they have very good sense of smell and hearing!

a Javan rhino cow & its calf

The Javan rhino is the rarest and most endangered large mammal in the world – it is on the verge of extinction, i.e. it is going to die out completely, without a single animal alive  on the earth!

The Sumatran rhino is the smallest rhino in the world, and is the rhino with the most hair!  The other species of rhinoceros have very little hair on the body, with some visible hair on the edges of the ears and on the tip of the tail!