Illustration by Steve Worthington
Save the Rhino Day is celebrated on May 1st of each. The staff at National Whatever Day were unable to discover the origin of Save the Rhino Day, however we believe it may have something to do with Save the Rhino International.
Save the Rhino International works to conserve viable populations of critically endangered rhinos in Africa and Asia. They recognize that the future of wildlife is inextricably linked to the communities that share its habitat. By funding field projects and through education, their goal is to deliver material, long-lasting and widespread benefits to rhinos and other endangered species, ecosystems and to the people living in these areas.
Rhinoceros, also known as rhino, is a group of five extant species of odd-toed ungulates in the family Rhinocerotidae. Two of these species are native to Africa and three to southern Asia.
the rhinoceros family is characterized by its large size (one of the largest remaining megafauna), with all of the species able to reach one tonne or more in weight; an herbivorous diet; and a thick protective skin, 1.5-5 cm thick.
Rhinoceros are killed by humans for their horns, which are bought and sold on the black market, and which are used by some cultures for ornamental or (largely pseudo-scientific) medicinal purposes. The horns are made of keratin, the same type of protein that makes up hair and fingernails. Both African species and the Sumatran Rhinoceros have two horns, while the Indian and Javan Rhinoceros have a single horn.
The IUCN Red List identifies three of the species as “critically endangered”.
Illustration Credit: Steve Worthington
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